Week 3

 This week I read about "Arche-Scriptures", a project created by Alberto Harres at HfK Bremen. This project explores ceramic pieces as a potential medium for digital data storage. A decrypting device scans an artefact unearthed at a hypothetical archeological dig site, and the visitor listens while the original audio data carved onto the pottery is extracted and turned into sound. This experience theorises upon the past and future of digital objects, and attempts to generate conversation surrounding "continuity, preservation and archiving."

The ceramic objects contain voice recordings taken from the Pandemic Archive of Voices, an audio archive containing 185 recordings in 18 different languages, each of those representing a phrase that explains their own personal experience with the Covid pandemic. Users can then listen to the software's attempt to read the engraved sounds. I found this incredibly interesting and touching, and believe it would be an extremely valuable historical resource for future generations.

This project was created using Arduino and Python, with additional browser display software. I find it very impressive that such a rich and immersive experience was created using readily available open source software. The concept of creating projects that include audiences beyond our own lifespan is intriguing, and definitely a big inspiration to me moving forward with my own personal project.