u19 – freestyle computing

2006

Horst Hörtner (AT)
Stefan Schilcher (AT)
Scott Ritter (AT) (US)
Barbara Egger
Stefan Eibelwimmer (AT)
Rudolf Hanl (AT)
Leonhard Immervoll
Iris Mayr (AT)
Christian Naglhofer (AT)
Gerlinde Pöschko
Christine Pilsl (AT)
Christoph Scholz
Stiliana Mitzeva
Christopher Lindinger (AT)
Roland Haring
Ehrentraud Hager (AT)
Alexander Niederklapfer (AT)
David Wurm (AT)
Magdalena Wurm (AT)
Katharina Nussbaumer
Jakob Illera
Woeishi Lean (AT)
Benjamin Mayr
Woeishi Lean (AT)
Benjamin Mayr

“u19 – freestyle computing” is Austria’s largest computer competition for young people. Held annually in conjunction with the Prix Ars Electronica, u19 has established itself since its founding in 1998 as the link between the spirit of youthful creativity and our world’s high-tech future. Over the years, thousands of Austrians youngsters age 19 and under have taken part.

The Museum of the Future has set up interactive stations on the 1st Upper Level spotlighting the greatest hits of prior year’s competitions as well as the 2006 prizewinning works.

Entrants to u19 are encouraged to give free rein to their imaginations—it’s “freestyle computing,” just like the name says. Projects include Internet applications, websites, graphics, works of computer animation, sounds, homebrew software and hardware set-ups. The competition is open to youngsters up to age 19 with a fixed abode in Austria. And, indeed, kids nowadays are getting started earlier and earlier—the youngest participants are 4 years old!

Console

The “Console” station is totally dedicated to the winners of the 2006 u19 – freestyle computing competition. There’s an array of playing cards—one for each of the 15 projects; flipping and turning them launches data visualizations, videos and animated shorts.

Wall of Fame

“The Wall of Fame” is modeled on a halfpipe and features a collage of the chief protagonists themselves—the up-and-coming young artists and inventors.

Bluebox

In the Bluebox, you can produce an image of a LEGO action figure and specify a background on the screen. Each and every one of the action figure’s subsequent movements has to be recorded individually. After producing a series of images, you’ve created a short film sequence.

Animation Studio

In the Animation Studio, you’ll see just how many working steps and how much imagination and endurance it takes to complete an animated film. Ehrentraud Hager, Alexander Niederklapfer, David Wurm and Magdalena Wurm won the 2006 Golden Nica in u19 – freestyle computing for their film “Adventures on the Way to Work.” They also designed the diversified Lego landscape utilized in the animation workshops held at the Ars Electronica Center. So get inspired and give free rein to your own imagination!

Besides many different stage sets, the Animation Studio offers variable camera settings, lighting effects, modifiable background imagery, an extensive selection of props and a diversified cast of characters. Sound like fun? Find out when the next animated film workshop will be offered at the Museum of the Future!

Winamp Remote Control

Dominik Amschl wanted a convenient, flexible way to play music in his own room too, so he constructed a device that displays a playlist’s titles while also letting him remote-control the playback. The connection to the PC works via USB.

Winamp Remote Control’s main component is an Amtel ATmega 8 microcontroller. Amschl programmed it with Amtel’s AVR Studio and a home-brew program adapter in the Assembler programming language. He wrote the program for the computer in Visual Basic.

At the Ars Electronica Center, you can get hands-on experience with Winamp Remote Control and use it to check out all the prizewinners in u19 – freestyle computing.

Winamp Remote Control garnered an Honorary Mention for its creator, Dominik Amschl, in the 2006 Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 – freestyle computing category.

Further informations: www.u19.at