ParQ: short and sweet  ••   Vondelpark  ••   Westerpark  ••   Development background  ••   Technology & architecture  ••   Demo  •• Links & Resources

what is it ?

ParQ is a mobile media sharing application that exposes and reinforces the social network of the communities that share a public park. Its developers are curious how social interaction is influenced by locative aspects of mobile messaging.

what's the status ?

ParQ is an idea under development at Waag Society's Locative Media programme. It should run as a locative media testbed in the Amsterdam Vondelpark. We have developed the concept into a first lo-tech sharing application for mobile phones but there are several follow-up ideas. Currently it's in an advanced prototype stage waiting to be tested.

what does it do ?

Having installed the ParQ application on their mobile phone, park visitors are able to send, pick up, and respond to messages that relate both to locations in the park and to their personal or shared interests. A tagging system allows them to define their own folksonomy to categorize and present their self-produced textual and (audio)visual media. In addition the application builds a realtime tagged media reflection on a screen strategically placed in the park.

why a park ?

In a park, people are in a relaxed mood with an open mind to their surroundings and with time to kill. Also it's a place with clearly a public function that brings together people with different interests but a shared interest in the park space. We believe that the Amsterdam Vondelpark can be exemplary for parks around the world.

what's the diff ?

ParQ is not MSN on your phone allowing you to have remote internet chats. All messages are stored 'in the park'. You go there to interact with them and with their creators. You physically connect to the media space, the location of the park itself, using short-range no-cost bluetooth technology.