Invitation to Participants (Winter 1982)





A PROJECT CONNECTING ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD IN A NON-STOP
SERIES OF DIALOGUES BEGINNING AT 12 NOON ON SEPTEMBER 27 AND
ENDING AT 12 NOON ON SEPTEMBER 28 (CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME).



This is a "low-technology" project using simple, cheap and readily available "off-the-shelf" equipment that operates via normal telephone or amateur (ham) radio networks.

There are three proven media (see other side) that have been successfully used in previous artist's telecommunications projects and there are probably others as yet untried. Artists or groups wishing to participate in this project may propose any medium providing that it operates via telephone, amateur radio or other freely accessible network, and that compatible hardware and access is available in Linz, Austria.

The budget provided by the ARS ELECTRONICA sponsors for this project is intended to provide for central organisation and telephone costs for one hour between Linz and each participating location. Each location will be called from Linz at 12 noon local time (this will vary somewhat in Europe).

Each call will last for about one hour.

Locations working together with amateur radio operators are of course NOT restricted by telephone costs or availability of phone lines during the event.

MEDIA INFORMATION (see attached sheets for detailed information)

1. COMPUTER TIMESHARING (I. P. SHARP NETWORK).
Equipment: Computer Terminal
Transmission Medium: Telephone or nearest IPSA office.
The IPSA office in Vienna is prepared to offer computer time and technical assistance to participants wishing to use the IPSA "Graphic Package" or other software for COMPUTER-GRAPHIC exchange. IPSA will also make the ARTEX and CONFER programs available for coordination of the project.

2. SLOW-SCAN TV (SSTV).
Equipment: SSTV Transceiver (ROBOT etc.).
Transmission Medium: Direct Telephone or Radio link.
Signals from video camera converted into audio signals and transmitted via telephone or radio...received image displayed on video monitor. Each image takes 8.5 seconds for completion. Some amateur radio operators have built their own SSTV equipment...the ROBOT is a commercial product.

3. TELEFACSIMILE (FAX).
Equipment: Facsimile Transceiver.
Transmission Medium: Direct Telephone link.
Telefax is probably the simplest technique for artist's telecomm use since it sends and receives images on paper. The transceiver converts the image into audio signals and transmits them via telephone to a similar machine which reconstructs the image on paper.