What does it feel like to play a bell? How big are they? How heavy are they? Can you feel them vibrate? How loud is it up there? Is it dizzying?

The Listen Up! team introduced GROCSters to the carillon with the fantastic opportunity to play it, all together. Here is team member Carrie Poon’s score and artist’s statement.

Watch the video

Thanks to all who participated in the 2010 selection process.  The project proposals were all outstanding, and as a group, they reflect an awesomely thoughtful and innovative UM community.   Those selected for GROCS 2010 are:

• Chance-It Multi-touch Table
• Listen Up!
• New Musical Instrument with Haptic Force Feedback Interface
• Nomadic Inquiry in Science Museums
• The Autlook Project: Creating Ability Friendly Digital and Physical Spaces
• With a Little Help From My Friends

Congratulations, 2010 teams!  

The projects invited to submit a full proposal, due November 2, are:

• “Chance It” Multi-touch Table
• ClearMeds
• Design of a new haptic interface to enhance the intuitive and physical relationship between musicians and their (electronic sound producing) instruments
• e+co(r)relate
• eDoctor’s DX
• Full-featured Multidimensional Data Visual Analysis System
• Information Overload. Impact Desensitisation. Digital Dispersion.
• Is Anybody There?
• iTactile
• M’AIDEZ Disaster Communications System
• Mobile Inquiry in the Museum
• The Autlook Project: Creating Ability Friendly Digital and Physical Spaces
• “What Would You Do If I Sang Out of Tune …”

Is your project listed?  You are STRONGLY encouraged to drop in during any Wednesday proposal workshop   for guidance in shaping your proposal (11 am – 1 pm, in Design Lab 1).  Or email grocs.info@umich.edu to schedule an appointment at your convenience. The full proposal forms will be posted later today.

Not listed? Most of the projects that were not selected at this stage were passed over because the collaboration component was not primary enough for our particular criteria (for example, the project would need only a straightforward relationship between practitioner and programmer).  Please don’t be discouraged!

Nearly half of the teams who submitted project ideas will be invited to develop full proposals, due Nov. 2.  The list will be posted here at noon, and we will email submitters who provided contact information.   Please note again:  if you did not type your name and contact information into the GROCS submission form with your proposal or provide it via email, we don’t know who you are!  Email grocs.info@umich.edu to identify yourself.

GROCS reviewers are already screening more than 30 GROCS 2010 entries.  Please check this website on or after October 9th  for the list of semifinalists.  Please note: we received several entries without contact information (geez, what a snafu!).   If you did not actively type in your team members’ names, we don’t have them.  Fear not – these projects will be reviewed without penalty.  Please email grocs.info@umich.edu if you think we need names with your project description.

Here it is– all the events and deadlines for the GROCS Fall Season. New activities this year: a CFP Kickoff Gathering in DL1 at lunchtime on Wed, Sep 16th. Come on over for a chance to chat with GROCS alums and GROCS staff members.

Also new: GROCS Proposal Workshops will replace the old GROCS Teas. Held at lunchtime on Wednesdays, these are opportunities for students to knock out ideas together, with feedback from GROCS staff.

Proposals Due October 1st!

• Sep 10 GROCS 2010 Call For Proposals Announced
• Sep 14 GROCS Proposal Submission Forms available
• Sep 16 Kick-off Gathering in DL1 (11am – 1pm)
• Sep 23, 30 GROCS Proposal Workshops (11am – 1pm)
• Oct 1 Proposals Due
• Oct 9 Semi-finalists Announced
• Oct 14, 21, 28 GROCS Final Proposal Workshops (11am – 1pm)
• Nov 2 Final Proposals Due
• Nov 13 Selected Projects Announced
• Nov 16 – 20 Orientation Meetings

Yahoo! has generously granted the GROCS program an additional $1500. The Yahoo! Boost Awards will be distributed at the end of the GROCS winter semester to teams that can use it to continue their work, with priority given to uses that particularly further a collaborative component — especially if it is across GROCS teams. Thanks Yahoo!

A big hearty thank you to everyone who came out to support the 2009 GROCS teams at their Galery show. We had a great, engaging crowd on Friday for the opening and a steady stream of visitors throughout the week.

And an equally hearty congrulations to all of the teams! It is no small feat to bring a project from proposal to exhibition in less than a semester, and the fact that each of our six teams can come together and each present their work is amazing.

Thanks again and look for more posts documenting the “wraps” in further detail to come!

Beginning Jan 16, GROCS teams will be gathering in Design Lab One every Friday, from 3 – 5 PM. The meetings will include a little bit of administrative business, and a majority of idea-sharing. Most meetings will include opportunities for teams to solicit feedback on particular decision points in their projects. Drop-in guests are welcome to attend!

At the January 16th meeting, we also plan to photograph everyone — for the 2009 brochure. Smile!