SwarmSketch is an ongoing online canvas that explores the
possibilities of distributed design by the masses. Each week it
randomly chooses a popular search term which becomes the sketch subject
for the week. In this way, the collective is sketching what the
collective thought was important each week. (Due to increased traffic sketches are currently being updated after about 1000 lines).
Many of the resulting images look like the works of German Expressionists or the New York Nuevo-Expressionist, Basquiat.
Each user can contribute a small amount of line per visit, then they are given the opportunity to vote on the opacity of lines submitted by other users. By voting, users moderate the input of other users, judging the quality of each line. The darkness of each line is the average of all its previous votes.
The sketch at right is titled "Daylight Saving" and, according to the stats, was created in 2 days, 12 hours and 49 minutes. The contributions came from around the globe: United States (34.5%), France (19.8%), Spain (9.9%), United Kingdom (5.9%), Canada (5.7%), Japan (4.8%), Australia (2.4%), Netherlands (2.4%), Germany (1.9%), Brazil (1.7%) and other locations (11%).
[ View: static view of artwork | animated history | detailed stats ]
Swarmsketch is currently sketching "Planets", come in and contribute a line. Alternatively, you may like to browse the previous sketches and view animations of their progression.
This on-line app was developed by Peter Edmunds as part of an honours project at the University of Canberra, in the capital of Austalia. If you have any comments or suggestions, email him.
Comments