TurntablistPC by Morgens Jacobsen
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 8:05AM
Analog Apartment in Turntables

The TurntablistPC is a fascinating installation created by Morgens Jacobsen back in 2004. Although currently not on display, it's an interesting project involving a turntable + computer mashup where the turntable playback is controlled by visits to websites. Here's more about it:

TurntablistPC is a telematic hybrid of a turntable (gramophone) and an old personal computer. 

TurntablistPC is a server which third-party websites can access. A small file is hosted on the TurntablistPC. Subscribing websites place a short piece of code on their pages. This code sends information to the TurntablistPC. When somebody visits one of the subscribing websites, the TurntablistPC spins the record. 
Control is remote and hidden. But output - audio - is local only (through speakers in the TurntablistPC). 

The location of the remote website controls the direction of the spin. If the website is located east of the TurntablistPC, it spins clockwise. If it is located west of the TurntablistPC, the spin is counterclockwise.

The distance to the visiting user determines the amount of spin. If you are near the TurntablistPC, you will only scratch the vinyl. If you are far away, it will play a whole section of the record.

Additional information and photos can be found here. The last I heard of this installation was back in 2007 when it was on display in Denmark. Anyone know if it's been on display more recently or here in the states? 

Article originally appeared on Analog Apartment (http://analogapartment.com/).
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