LOW-TECH CHRONICLES is an experimental publication series that focuses on (re)activating so-called obsolete technologies. Each issue embeds possibly forgotten media standards and techniques into today's networked media environments so as to collectively rethink their lost and new potential. While there is a pressure to constantly adopt fast, slick, and state-of-the-art high-tech, this series proposes instead to engage with slower, 'unstable' and forgotten low-tech alternatives.
Issue #1: Ephemeral Encodings
This FIRST issue revolves around the topic how sound can play a role in the perception of the material properties of computation as the latter is often perceived as 'immaterial'. The publication consists of 2 readers and an audio cassette. The first part is a collection of stories and anecdotes by 18 contributors. For this part, each contributor was invited to share a vivid memory or almost-forgotten experience on how sound connected them to the material world of computation and digital networking. To enrich their stories, each contributor provided a piece of audio and an (modulated) image with their text. The second part is a thesis that discusses the topic of the (disappearing) sound of computer activity more in-depth. The issue explores the theme by experimenting with the material properties of the contents itself.
Mark van den Heuvel is a researcher, designer and musician from the Netherlands. His works mainly focusses on reframing the potential and context of so-called obsolete technologies trough artistic research. This takes place in the midst of publishing, performing, presenting and collaborating.
