Leidi Haaijer,	The Netherlands
Jeroen Kouwe,	The Netherlands
Edwin Lieftink,	The Netherlands

TagLIVE is a basic concept evolving into an intelligent system that enlarges the public domain. TagLIVE connects physical objects to virtual information by attaching physical tags to objects. Useful as a tool, a toy, for advertising, chat, weblog etc.

TagLIVE - THE WORLD IS THE PLAYING FIELD
Which astronaut will be first to TAG the moon?

What is TagLIVE?
TagLIVE is about the tagging of objects in real physical life. Physical tags point to information in the virtual world. By tagging objects physically they become handles to the virtual world that is containing the specificly attached information.
A metaphor of this process is the Magritte painting (img03) - Çeci n'est pas une pipe.

Physical versus virtual (img02)
In the past mainly humans told stories; now stories are detached from man and become attached to objects. Connecting objects to information enables stronger relationships between the physical world we live in and the virtual world of stories, fantasy, information and knowledge. This also allows us to integrate virtual data in our lives in new ways and to use it differently.
Retrieving the virtual information attached to the objects, from a database, can be done by using different kinds of interfaces: website, e-mail, by sending sms-messages and receiving information, reading a teletext-page, broadcasts on radio & tv, or by watching video walls in public spaces and perhaps, in the future, directly by brain implant.

Private versus public
TagLIVE is a way to put pieces of private information and stories together that can be made publicly available. Tagged information can become private again when users consume it and copy it for personal use. Information can shove away in regard with the object or even be attached to objects that no longer exist. Because of this a topical question in the information society of today is: how true (= real, truthful) is the offered information.

The tagged object
The tags contain a unique number which always point to a unique piece of information. When the user possesses the unique code of that tag, (s)he has access to all information connected to that particular object. With this unique number the user can add his/her information or story to the 'information-space' of that object. Without the unique code the user only has access to the last added piece of information (i.e. the whole 'information-history of the object' is not available) and that person can't add information.

To tag an object:
1. Fill in the form on www.taglive.net with personal data and data concerning the tagged object
2. Add your new information to the object
3. A unique number is then generated and the matching TAG can be printed (design is user-customizable). Fixed data are available on this TAG: a general sms-number, Teletext-page no., website URL, and e-mail address (img01)
4. You attach the printed TAG to the object (img03 – Tagged pipe)
5. Now save the filled in form; this also stores the unique number and attached data in the database
6. Now you can pass on the tagged object physically to a new user/receiver
7. The new user gets to know the physical object and virtual information connected to the object
8. The new user passes on the object, with or without adding his/her experiences to the object
9. The information/story surrounding the object has grown. Many senders and receivers later it now contains additions of many users. The physical object has gained an intriguing virtual form.

Website www.taglive.net
On the website the user finds the following:
- Form and printing possibility tags
- The last added information/stories
- Information about the different media channels where objects can be followed
- Voting possibilities to 'disable' information/stories

Editing system
The database is connected to an editing system that is maintained by multiple users. Users can 'vote away' information. When a certain amount of votes is reached the information will be dumped from the database. This kind of system prevents abusive or rude information to stay connected to objects for longer periods of time. In the system we define three kinds of users:
1. Visitors, never tagged an object themselves (they are familiar with TagLIVE through media)
2. Visitors who have seen and touched the physical object, but don't add information to objects (they know it's unique code including the whole history)
3. Users who tag objects and add information to passing objects
Votes of these users have a different value in the 'voting away' system. At the start of the TagLIVE project, human editors will monitor the process. After some time the monitoring will be automated.

Marketing
'The Ball' (pilot project) will be the kick off introducing TagLIVE. A number of tagged balls are launched into the world (e.g. by Johan Cruyff). Part of this campaign will exist of a video wall where people can view 'The Tagging of the Balls' or a real-time registration of 'The Voyage of the Balls'. The whole event can be followed on tv, radio, in newspapers, on the Internet, via sms, teletext or by rumour going around.

© 2004

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