Biomapping the Burn

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Mon May 25, 2009 11:21 am

I was just checking out this guys art project. Measuring peoples galvanic skin response as they travel around their city to map spots that elicit emotional arousal. How cool would it be to get him out to the burn? With a bunch of burners participating, you would be able to look back and see which camps/installations garnered a greater emotional arousal. Maybe make plans to check something out next year, or just kick yourself for all of the sweet shit you missed, once again.

http://biomapping.net/index.htm

From the website:Bio Mapping
Christian Nold
Jan 2004 - ongoing

Bio Mapping is a community mapping project in which over the last four years with more than 1500 people have taken part in. In the context of regular, local workshops and consulltations, participants are wired up with an innovative device which records the wearer's Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), which is a simple indicator of the emotional arousal in conjunction with their geographical location. People re-eplore their local area by walking the neighbourhood with the device and on their return a map is created which visualises points of high and low arousal. By interpreting and annotating this data, communal emotion maps are constructed that are packed full of personal observations which show the areas that people feel strongly about and truly visualise the social space of a community.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Mon May 25, 2009 12:21 pm

Very Cool stuff...
All those in favor of Silver buying the guy a ticket say Aye....

Aye...

Laughing Forest · Post by **Laughing Forest** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:20 pm

(nevermind)

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:31 pm

Here, let me say it then.

participants are wired up with an innovative device which records the wearer's Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), which is a simple indicator of the emotional arousal in conjunction with their geographical location.

This sounds damn near like one of them E-Meters that Scientologists use to recruit stupid fucks who're incapable of thinking for themselves. Mind you I'm not suggesting that that's the purpose of the biomapping people. I am saying though that the E-Meter uses the same GSR principles that are used to dupe people into believing The Cult's BS when the 'information' is interpreted for them by folks with an ulterior motive or less than forthright agenda.

So sure, 'biomapping' BRC with your friends sounds like a cute, harmless idea that might end up being a lot of fun - especially it one maintains a... skeptical point-of-view regarding the 'results.'

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:49 pm

Yeah Iso, I really don't know much about the scientologists. What I did learn pretty much led me to discard them from my realm of existence and pretty much ignore them. This device is hooked up to a gps to coordinate emotional arousal and positioning. Is it an evil plot? I don't know. There's always room for one more evil plot.

ibdave, I wish I was in a position to send anyone a ticket. I just moved to the state with the highest unemployment rate and am trying to start a business here. Fuck. In retropect not the smartest thing I've ever done, but I didn't do it for logical reasons, so fuck it. I'll live. I did send him an email though, expressing how cool I thought his project was and how cool it would be if he brought it to BRC.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:07 pm

Didnt the "Prototype This" show use GSR for the remote controlled destruction derby cars that only worked when you were calm or somesuch? That was a pretty awesome episode.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:57 pm

I just moved to the state with the highest unemployment rate and am trying to start a business here.

Let me be the first to raise my glass to the Man With the Biggest Cohones of the Week.

OK, so I'm sure you've no evil intent in your idea. And, like I said it probably would be pretty interesting. Although... I can't quite...wrap my head around this one. The link to the web site has a sample biomap of what appears to be a long walkabout in a large urban (European?) city. The highest GSP spike appears to be at a point at which the walker encounters - probably quite unexpectedly - a cross walk with high vehicular traffic. M'mk? So how is it possible the 1) there's not a higher recorded spike suggesting one or more encounters with urban street mimes, 2) white kids with dreadlocks asking for spare change while their parents are jetting off to Cannes, 3) pan handlers wearing $400 Rebok/Nike/New Balance running shoes, 4) cooky college student asking the subject to sign a petition demanding a meat-free world/all vegan economy/investment in wind (or solar) powered government subsidized DJ college.

Just curious.

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Mon May 25, 2009 3:39 pm

Isotopia wrote:
I just moved to the state with the highest unemployment rate and am trying to start a business here.
Let me be the first to raise my glass to the Man With the Biggest Cohones of the Week.

OK, so I'm sure you've no evil intent in your idea. And, like I said it probably would be pretty interesting. Although... I can't quite...wrap my head around this one. The link to the web site has a sample biomap of what appears to be a long walkabout in a large urban (European?) city. The highest GSP spike appears to be at a point at which the walker encounters - probably quite unexpectedly - a cross walk with high vehicular traffic. M'mk? So how is it possible the 1) there's not a higher recorded spike suggesting one or more encounters with urban street mimes, 2) white kids with dreadlocks asking for spare change while their parents are jetting off to Cannes, 3) pan handlers wearing $400 Rebok/Nike/New Balance running shoes, 4) cooky college student asking the subject to sign a petition demanding a meat-free world/all vegan economy/investment in wind (or solar) powered government subsidized DJ college.

Just curious.

I agree. But I think it's probably a reflection on the mundane existence people tend to enter into in city life. Coming from someone who pays attention, and has experienced life in anything from a ranch in the middle of nowhere to very large cities, I know this to be true. In the city there's such a barrage of noise and activity that a lot of things seem to fall by the wayside. Thus, I can understand the spike where someones pit bull is barking at them through the fence is a stimulus where walking past an art gallery might not be. I think it's just a matter of sensory overload. Maybe that's part of the reason the playa is so perfect for the event. Removal of familiar stimulus for the masses. In effect, forcing them to pay attention for a change. I just think it would be a beautiful thing to be able to look at this poster on my wall and see this circle of emotion on the playa around the man, the temple, Simons tent

, etc. It's been years since I've been to the playa. When I was living in the redwoods it was enough to carry the flame in my heart. Now that I'm back in the city, I REALLY feel the need to get back out there again. Don't know why this is.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Tue May 26, 2009 3:07 am

Just wondering how it would be able to tell the differance between
ART and BOOBIES?

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Tue May 26, 2009 4:30 am

There's a difference?

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue May 26, 2009 1:47 pm

goathead wrote:Just wondering how it would be able to tell the differance between
ART and BOOBIES?

SilverOrange wrote:There's a difference?

Yes, if you try to touch the Art the Security Guard will whack you with his billy club.

If you try to touch the Boobies, you'll get maced.

It is a subtle difference, but there, nonetheless