Institute for Applied Autonomy
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The Institute for Applied Autonomy was an activist group of anonymous artists known for employing technology in protest. The group focused on dissemination of knowledge, autonomy, and methods of self-determination through artistic expression and application of military-like technology to the topics of Criminal Mischief, decentralized systems and individual autonomy.Cvar, Stacey Recht. (February 9, 2005) [http://citybeat.com/2005-02-09/art.shtml The Art of Sedition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805084502/http://citybeat.com/2005-02-09/art.shtml |date=2007-08-05 }} Cincinnati City Beat. Accessed December 14, 2007.
History
The Institute for Applied Autonomy was founded in 1998 as an informal research collective around the central theme of contestational robotics.{{Cite web | url=http://we-make-money-not-art.com/interview_with_18/ | title=Interview with the Institute for Applied Autonomy| date=27 June 2007}}{{Cite book |last=Leah Lievrouw |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I6XHKtSzaMcC&pg=PT48 |title=Alternative and Activist New Media |date=6 May 2013 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-7456-5833-9 |pages=48–}}{{Cite book |last=Critical Art Ensemble |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QaIUAQAAIAAJ |title=Digital resistance: explorations in tactical media |date=1 July 2001 |publisher=Autonomedia|isbn = 9781570271199}}
Its Mission statement was to "study the forces and structures which affect self-determination and to provide technologies which extend the autonomy of human activists."{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoiyCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA272 |title=ReClaiming Participation: Technology - Mediation - Collectivity |date=1 February 2016 |publisher=transcript Verlag |isbn=978-3-8394-2922-8 |editor-last=Denecke |editor-first=Mathias |pages=272– |editor-last2=Ganzert |editor-first2=Anne |editor-last3=Otto |editor-first3=Isabell |editor-last4=Stock |editor-first4=Robert}}
Projects
One of its better known initiatives was i-See, a decentralized CCTV map distribution software containing user-generated data including positioning of surveillance cameras in New York City, as well as several other international city centers, in protest of privacy violations on the general public.Pentland, William. (November 16, 2007) [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071203/pentland Insecurity Cameras] The Nation. Accessed December 14, 2007.{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/05/big_apple_is_watching_you.html |title=Big Apple Is Watching You: How many surveillance cameras are there in Manhattan |last=Palmer |first=Brian |date=May 3, 2010 |publisher=Slate |access-date=2017-10-08}}
In 2003, they took part in the Cartographic Congress organised by the University of Openess in London{{Cite web|url=http://www.metamute.org/editorial/articles/minima-cartographia-or-patient-becomes-agent|title=Minima Cartographia or the Patient Becomes the Agent|date=16 July 2003}}
Their project TXTMob, a registration system for cell phones to allow protest groups rapid, anonymous communication,Di Justo, Patrick. (September 9, 2004). [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/technology/circuits/09mobb.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Protests powered by cellphone] The New York Times. Accessed December 14, 2007. was used during the 2004 Republican National Convention.{{Cite book |last1=Matt Ratto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jdHMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA58 |title=DIY Citizenship: Critical Making and Social Media |last2=Megan Boler |date=7 February 2014 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-52552-7 |pages=58–}} TXTMob allowed users to subscribe to groups of like-minded persons via a web interface. Once subscribed, messages sent to the group would be passed from the web to the group members' cell phones.{{Cite book |last=Tapio Häyhtiö |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29Ucv7BU_DYC&pg=PA94 |title=Net Working/Networking: Citizen Initiated Internet Politics |publisher=University of Tampere |year=2008 |isbn=978-951-44-7464-4 |pages=94–}} In February 2008, the New York City Law Department issued a subpoena directed to the programmer of TXTMob, asking him to reveal users of the service and contents of messages sent during the convention.Moynihan, Colin. (March 30, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/nyregion/30text.html City Subpoenas Creator of Text Messaging Code] The New York Times. Accessed April 9, 2008.
Other IAA projects included the Graffiti writer and Terminal air.
All IAA artwork has been copylefted, with permission for use as long as it is attributed.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060810001352/http://www.appliedautonomy.com/ Internet Archive record of the official Applied Autonomy website] – (The original site is no longer active)