Muharrem Yildirim has developed the first major contender towards solving the GML Field Recorder Challenge, which is a 1200 euro prize to produce an easily reproducible DIY device that can unobtrusively record graffiti motion data during a graffiti writer’s normal practice in the city. The GML Recording Machine uses a hacked mechanical mouse in combination with an Arduino to measure the length of two strings attached to the graffiti writer’s feet. The motion captured data is stored in an on board SD card and, with a simple script, is later converted to Graffiti Markup Language (.gml) format. An instruction guide for how to build the device from low cost materials will be on Muharrem’s blog shortly.

The GML Recording Machine is an exciting step forward in the development of technologies for real (as opposed to simulated) graffiti.

I’m excited to announce the official launch of a new project I’ve been working on with Mozilla. Mark Up is an online statement of solidarity in support of a web that should remain open, free and healthy. It’s similar in concept to an online petition where everyone is invited to add their signature, name or mark. Each mark is rendered in 3D using HTML5 and connected end-to-end to form a continuous line, representing a unified global statement on the fundamental importance of an open and free internet. Add your mark and become part of the line that connects you, me, Lawrence Lessig, James Boyle and many others:

http://markup.mozilla.org

Mark Up is an open initiative with both the data and source code freely available. All of the marks are saved as .gml (Graffiti Markup Language) and can be used interchangeably with many other applications.

For any data nerds, the entire collection of marks will be made available here and updated periodically as the site grows.

Much of the credit for this project goes to Laura Mesa and many very busy Mozillians. Development for the project was done primarily by The Barbarian Group.

The source code for a single point of GML written on a train. Writing and updated Spray Can POV design by Drawvolution (original here).

Graffiti Analysis Sculpture
Barcelona, 2010
ABS Thermoplastic
31 x 20 x 35 cm

This Barcelona specific installation of Graffiti Analysis is currently on exhibition as part of Kitsch Digital. The sculpture was created by algorithmically averaging the motion captured data from local graffiti writers and produced on a rapid prototyping 3D printer.

.gml data from the Barcelona Graffiti Analysis sessions can be downloaded here.

More on the Kitsch Digital exhibition coming soon from tbx.

Vote for Graffiti Analysis & GML in the Transmediale & Mozilla Open Web Award!!!

Here’s how:

1. Create a Mozilla Drumbeat account: https://www.drumbeat.org/user/register

2. Check your mail to get your password and validate your account.

3. Go to the GA/GML Project page on Drumbeat and click “vote” in the upper right corner: http://www.drumbeat.org/project/graffiti-markup-language

4. Leave a comment related to “what you – in particular – like? How do you think the project supports the open web? Would you want to somehow contribute or get involved? Your vote and input directly influences the final decision.“

As you can see, GA/GML is currently waaaaaaaay behind in the race, so it can use all the help it can get. Once you have voted please accept my thanks and this sticker.

(View in fullscreen for best results.)

Graffiti Analysis: POV Can is a low tech DIY spray can modification in which the LED light source doubles as video illumination and motion tracking input. The GML (.gml) data of the graffiti tags featured in the video can be downloaded here, and the Graffiti Analysis software and source code can be downloaded here. GA:POV Can was created in Vienna last week as part of the BLK River Festival.

How-To Guide:
Spray paint can + Flip Cam + magnetic wide angle lens + LED pen light + masking tape = Graffiti Analysis: POV Can

Obama redraws the greatest hits and your favorite selections from the #000000book library of GML tags, in the Obama GML Playa by Golan Levin & Jérôme Saint-Clair.

To view the Obama GML Playa go to http://graffitimarkuplanguage.com/obama-gml-playa

Built with Processing, 2010 / Source code: Playa.zip
Uses the new Processing GML Library GML4U by Jérôme Saint-Clair and Toxiclibs by Karsten “Toxi” Schmidt. White House photo by Pete Souza (Government Work).

Hacker friend Paul Rouget created an online application for converting .gml data from text to image (and back again) via drag’n'drop.
Save your .gml data as images!

As part of the GML Week Part 2 we’re releasing this code today, maybe it inspires you to create something crazy based on it. Copyleft!

Website: http://www.graffitimarkuplanguage.com/gml2img/


This is how it looks like: