Catch a live podcast about resilient mesh networks in Brooklyn

Come catch a live recording of Library Bytegeist at a public radio event in Brooklyn! We will be talking about the community-run mesh wi-fi network they have built in Gowanus to remain resilient in the case of future disasters, either natural or man-made.

You can RSVP at the BRIC event page.

WHEN

Friday, May 5, 9:00 – 9:30 pm

WHERE

Gallery at BRIC House

647 Fulton Street (Enter on Rockwell Place)

Brooklyn, NY 11217

WHO

Molly Schwartz, Fellow at the Metropolitan New York Library Council, host and producer of Library Bytegeist

Raul Enriquez, Technology Coordinator & Training Specialist, New America / Resilient Communities

Mario Peart, Digital Steward with the Gowanus Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC)

This recording will be part of the Public Access / Open Networks exhibit. This exhibition will present both key and lesser-known figures who worked in the Public Access arena, as well as contemporary artists experimenting with the democratic potential of new media platforms on the Internet. The show highlights the historical relationships between community-produced media and political action, documenting the potential for social change and creative reimagining through this technology.

RESILIENT NETWORKS NYC

Resilient Networks NYC is a multi­stakeholder partnership building local wireless networks in six Superstorm Sandy­impacted neighborhoods. In each neighborhood, New America’s Resilient Communities Program is partnering with a local community organization on the front lines of climate adaptation and economic resilience. With our support, our partners are training local residents as “Digital Stewards” to conduct outreach, collaborate with local businesses and leaders, and design, install, and maintain resilient public WiFi systems.

When telecommunications systems are functioning normally, these public WiFi networks will provide access to the internet. Because commercial networks often fail in emergencies, however, the networks also feature redundant connections, local hosting, and backup power systems. This design will allow the networks to function as response and resilience organizing platforms in emergencies, enabling community ­based organizations to communicate with each other, with local residents, and with first responders, even when other systems fail.

Hunts_Point
A photo of the digital stewards training in Hunts Point

Bite-Sized Bytegeist episode: Talking Audio Restoration with Gabe Liberti

What is it like to restore audio on classic films? For this bite-sized Bytegeist we sat down with Gabe Liberti to talk about his time as an audio restoration engineer at the Criterion Collection. These days Gabe uses his sound engineering skills to design interactive installations as part of the design duo, Dave and Gabe: www.daveandgabe.care/

For more about the degradation and obsolescence of magnetic media, check out episode 4, where we talk to Rachel Mattson about the XFR Collective: Librarybytegeist – Rachelmattson

Audio mastering by Dalton Harts

Tools used to record this podcast:
Blue Yeti microphone: www.bluemic.com/products/yeti/
Transcribe: transcribe.wreally.com/app
Reaper: www.reaper.fm/
Izotope: www.izotope.com/en/products/repai…plug-in-pack.html

Music and Soundtracks:
Opening and closing track: “Magic” by Otis MacDonald
This podcast uses these sounds from freesound:
Katana by Halleck (www.freesound.org/people/Halleck/)
Flute by Uncle Sigmund (www.freesound.org/people/UncleSigmund/ )
Taiko by dirtydowntowner (www.freesound.org/people/dirtydowntowner/ )
bnpppjd.aif by dropthedyle (www.freesound.org/people/dropthedyle/