u19 – freestyle computing 2007

2007

Scott Ritter (AT) (US)
Jakob Illera
Roland Haring
Nicolas Naveau
Woeishi Lean (AT)
Christian Naglhofer (AT)
Rudolf Hanl (AT)
Christoph Scholz
Katharina Nussbaumer
Christopher Lindinger (AT)
Christine Pilsl (AT)
Leonhard Immervoll
Stefan Eibelwimmer (AT)

“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.

Interactive stations arrayed in the middle of the Museum of the Future’s 1st Upper Level showcase the greatest hits from past u19 competitions as well as the 2007 prizewinners. Soak up some inspiration from these outstanding efforts; then, head over to the cartooning and animation installations and try it out yourself!

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 features works singled out for recognition in the Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 – freestyle computing category. Each project is represented by a playing card. Laying the card down and turning it launch visualizations of data, videos and animated sequences.

Wall of Fame

The Wall of Fame is a collage-like display featuring the stars themselves: up-and-coming young inventors and artists. A video provides a rundown on the prizewinning projects.

Greenbox

In the Greenbox, you can record an action figure and set up background scenery on-screen. Each of the action figure’s subsequent movements has to be recorded individually; after you’ve created a series of images, the result is a short film sequence. This form of cartooning utilizes so-called stop motion procedure. There are other possibilities of producing “moving pictures”; to find out more, check out the Animation Studio and the other installations on the 1st Upper Level: Flipbook, Stop Motion Short Cuts and Slot Machine Drawing.

Digital Animation

Stop-motion films are sequences of individually photographed images of actual objects, whereas works of digital animation are produced entirely by computer. One illustration of this is the Puppet Tool installation. Here, all it takes is a simple mouse-click to set all kinds of creatures in motion. You’ll find a lot more examples of this on the Ground Floor at the Prix Ars Electronica Animation and Digital Archive installations.

Draw some inspiration from u19 prizewinning projects that utilize stop motion and digital animation techniques. Then it’s time for your filmmaking debut in one of the Museum of the Future’s animation workshops!