The document discusses how new media and technology are influencing the modern public sphere. It describes how coffee houses in the 17th century served as places for public discussion around cultural objects, and how newspapers at the time included user-generated content. It then outlines how contemporary technologies like GPS, CCTV, WiFi, and augmented reality can be leveraged to surface community issues and enable public participation and ownership over issues. Specific projects are highlighted that use citizen-provided data and media installations to bring issues back into public spaces and turn civic participation into engaging spectacles.

1. Urban Media &
The Public Sphere
Martijn de Waal
www.martijndewaal.nl
www.themobilecity.nl
Monday, September 19, 2011 1

2. Habermas: Public Sphere emerges
in C17th Coffee Houses
Monday, September 19, 2011 2

3. Habermas: Discussion emerged
around Cultural Objects
Monday, September 19, 2011 3

4. C17th Newspapers included
‘User Generated Content’
Monday, September 19, 2011 4

5. C17th Geography of
the Public sphere
Monday, September 19, 2011 5

6. WIFI
RFID
GSM
GPS Augmented
CCTV
Reality
senseable.mit.edu
Monday, September 19, 2011
) 6

7. Using
The Internet of Things
To bring out these
‘issues of concern’
Senseable City Lab Trash Track
Trash Track MIT Senseable City Lab
Monday, September 19, 2011 7

8. Challenge:
How to move beyond
representation
And towards a sense of
‘ownership’ in the issue
http://intheair.es/
Monday, September 19, 2011 8

9. Using User
Provided Data
to bring out
‘communal issues’
Bomenkap
http://www.bomenkap.nl/
Monday, September 19, 2011 9

10. Bringing ‘Issues’ back
in Public Space
In the Air (Medialab Prado)
http://intheair.es/
Monday, September 19, 2011 10

11. Make individual
contributions visible
Monday, September 19, 2011 11

12. Turn it into a playful
spectacle
Climate on the Wall http://www.digitalurbanliving.dk/projects/media-facades/climate-on-the-wall.php
Monday, September 19, 2011 12