Is that a cell phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Chances are you are one of the roughly 190 million cell phone users in the US that has one in your pocket. This class will explore all the creative capabilities that a portable networked device can provide. Students will create projects for and with their cell phones. Projects may include, but are not limited to’Ķ cell phone photography, cell phone video, cell interfaces, networked interfaces, mobile applications, storytelling, social connections, the cell phone as a trigger, networked performance, games, poetry, interactive systems, social discourse, invented reality, physical space, public space, private space, sms voting, appropriate etiquette, male impotence, brain damage, etc.

The first part of the semester will be dedicated to getting to know your cell phone and it's culture. Through small projects and research we will explore the social and cultural contexts that surround mobile technology and it's place in society. The second half of the semester will involve students breaking into teams and realizing larger projects. The plan is to develop these projects, get them published online, and bask in the glory of internet fame. All skills and viewpoints are welcome.

Blog:
me-mymobile.blogspot.com/

Required Reading:
Smart Mobs by Howard Rheingold
Your midterm will involve a report of somekind, but please start reading this book now.

Week 1 - week 5 Explore Cell Phones and projects
Week 6 - week 8 Explore project proposals for end of semester
Week 9 - Week 15 Work on projects

Week One:
Introductions:
Review baltimore show
Saddam Hussein cell phone video
Review other cell phone projects

Assignment:
1. Name your cell phone
2. Do a cell phone photo essay. 10-15 photo essay taken from your cell phone. What does it mean to take a photo form your cell phone? What kind of photos are taken from cell phones? Explore themes that surround cell phone behavior.

Looking at:
My Photo Essay (shot from the point of view of my ear)
Google Map Hack
Using Mobile Phones to Stop Graffiti
Camera Phone Etiquette

Week Two:
In Class:
Review and talk about Photo Essays.
Go over cell phone photo work.
Split into groups and plan 'caught on cell phone' scenarios.

Looking at:
Surveillance Shoe - Jill Magid
Cell phone surveillance
We're all Surveillance cameras
Mobile Phone Photography Show
Cell Phone Wallpaper
Cell Booth
phone bashing
outting each other

Assignment:
1. Put photo essays on Flickr and join the group 'Me and My Mobile."
2. Add photo to your blog entry.
3. Create and post 'caught on cell phone camera' scenarios.
4. 'Where were you when..?" project. When you receive a txt message from me, snap a photo from your phone as soon as you receive the message and document where the photo was taken.

Week Three:
In Class:
Review 'Caught on Cell phone vids".
Review and discuss the txt to photo essays.
How can we turn the results of the 'txt to photo' essay into something?
Discuss setting up an sms gateway.

Looking at:
We are all photographers now
construction workers cell video
Geo tagging on flickr
Panopticon, Jeremy Bentham more...
Monitoring, Observing and Tracking

Week Four:
In Class:
Review Individual 'Caught on Cell phone vids".
Go over photo mobbing findings and developments

Looking at:
Text Mob
Why They hate Us
Text Message Break-ups
barcode ads

To Do:
Break up with me over text messaging
Continue to develop 'Where b u'

Week Five:
In Class:
Review Break-ups
Show TXT-A-Sketch

To Do:
Continue to develop 'Where b u'
Develop ideas for cell phone projects.

Week Six:
In Class:
Jill Magid Presents

Week Seven:
In Class:
Show Rome photos.
Review progress on 'Where U B' and what it will take to complete and test run.

To Do:
Response/Reaction to Smart Mobs.
-2 page response. 12 point, typed, double spaced.
-Propose a cell phone based project. Find background to support the creation of your project.

Week Eight:
In Class:
Mike Edwards will present the cell phone based Gateway Sydewynder and Python.

To Do:
Turn in Reports to my mailbox by Friday.

Spring Break

Week Nine (March 28):
In Class:
Go over project proposals and discuss the feasibility of production.

Week Ten (April 4):
In Class:
Define Final projects and post to blog for feedback.

Week Eleven (April 11):
In Class:
In class review and working session.

Week Twelve (April 18):
In Class:
In class review and working session.

Week Thirteen (April 25):
In Class:
In class review and working session.

Week Fourteen (May 2):
In Class:
In class review and working session.

Week Fifteen (May 9):
In Class:
Final Presentation to Guest Crits.