Project Information

Title: "KidCast For Peace; Solutions For A Better World"

Media: Internet video, VHS(NTSC), Computer: Floppy disk, ZIP disk

Descriptive sentence: KidCast For Peace; Solutions for a Better World, is designed to enable kids to suggest to the adults how to make this a happier, healthier, and safer world through creation of analog and digital art, web sites and VRML Worlds culminating in live interactive videoconferences on the Internet.

What is your project? "KidCast For Peace; Solutions For A Better World" is an opportunity for kids of all ages around the world to meet in real and virtual space to share and discuss solutions to personal and planetary problems.

Does it have a special meaning to you? Yes, It gives an opportunity for kids to tell the adults what to do for a change, and establishes a conduit to tap into the primal creative force of young people, untainted by the games of "adults." I get to be a role model for young people learning digital tools for storytelling their future world into existance.

What do you like best about it? Children learn compassion and how to see for another's point of view. They learn how to do digital storytelling and meet other kids around the world. Self esteem is increased becuse our thoughts and feelings are heard, recognized, and appreciated.

How did you first think of the ideas? I woke up one morning with the thought "Since I have been invited to set up an interactive Creativity CafeĀ environment, wouldn't it be cool to ask kids to suggest to the the adults in an internet video conference, how to make this a happier, healthier, safer and more peaceful world. I wrote a message outlining my idea and suggesting ways for childrend, parents, teachers and sponsors to participate. The overwhelming response was positively amazing, causing me to invent the game and build a website to support and propigate the "KidCast" Concept on June 24, 1995, in San Francisco California.

How will your project affect others? It will give children a sense of self esteem to participate, They will learn not only how to use traditional and digital art tools to express themselves, but how to make a ilasting contribution to the unfoldment of a healthy and peaceful world. They will learn to see-through-anothers-eyes and be exposed to many difference cultures. It will demonstrate their creativity and make their voices heard; they are the leaders of tomorrow, this projects gives them a loud voice that they may help shape the world they will inherit.

Presentation Information Other credits (mentors, collaborators, sponsors), I am planning to collaborate with the following:, Dr. Dave Warner and his Cyberarium Project, Dr. John Southworth and his class at University of Hawaii, John McCloud and Digiquest, SF, Maui Hawaii Schools, Yoko and her telecommunications class in Tokoyo Japan, Just Think Organization, SF, ThinkQuest; VRML labs for children's Environmental education, Paul Hugel; S.A.V.E, Maui, who will supply SGI equipment for VRML World Building and to act as a Media Server to the Internet.

Dimensions of work: approximately 600 sq feet of floor space

Length of work: during, before & beyond our planned 2 day Netcast:7/22-3/98

Hardware used: Mac's and PC's supplied by Dave Warner, other sponsors and participants. SGI computers supplied by S.A.V.E. MAUI program.

Software used CU-SeeMe, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia DreamWeaver, Netscape Navigator, Debabilizer, Macromedia Director, Adobe After Effects, Apple Quicktime, etc. Software already supplied by manufacturers.

sigKIDS INterACTive Floor space required: Approximately 600 sq ft.. Estimated shipping cost: $300 (for Video Projector)

What supplies and people will you need during the conference to set up and run your project? Attach a complete list: Paper and Crayons, Finger paint, watercolors, Tables and chairs for 25, 10 basic computers with zip drives, two master computers with ability to input and output video; 1 for CU-SeeMe videoconference, and the other for creative support, Raid Array for video support, two color printers, scanner, web server, video camera, tripod, videotape (for documentation and taking live video for digitization, manipulation and KidCast art submission).

People: 6/day volunteer Creativity Cafe/KidCast Tour Guides 4/day Space and Resource Managers 1 KidCast Spokesperson: Me 3 Web site designers for on the fly Siggraph KidCast Web site production from art created in Cyberarium and KidCast Central where the "Creativity Cafe KidCast Art Creation Stations" using above techonlogy will be set up. Corporate Representatives to demonstrate their products and help kids make 2D, 3D and VRML art. (The KidCast Environment takes place within and will be a meld with Dave Warner's Cyberarium environment; perhaps to be called Cyberarium's Creativity Cafe?)

How many people will be able to participate in your project (at one time, per hour, per day)? 60 per hour, 480 a day

Floor plans or drawings indicating space design and utilities required (power, etc.). Attach to this form: See Attached preliminary floorplan. Once Dave Warner and I meet in Early July, we will spend the next month designing the exhibit.

Estimated set-up and strike time: 3 hours set up, 1 hour strike

Abstract: Kids from around the world, in schools, cybercafes, and at home are given an "Internet Channel" to voice their solutions for a better world. They are accepted as contributors to the evolution of life by the adults. Through KidCasting, kids are provoked by their teachers, parents and guardians, to consider solutions to personal, local and planetary problems, and to explore ideas about compassion and community. Because we seek their expression, the kids' self-esteem increases. Children learn valuable tools for community building and how to use computers for digital storytelling; a valuable job skill for the 21st Century (nurturing future Siggraphians). During live interaction, children express their ideas and feelings overcoming obsticles of distance and language . They hold up their creations in front of the video camera, direct the public to their web site, and have conversations with each other and the public-at-large. This foundation of community thinking and education/use of digital storytelling tools stimulates an early desire to use computer graphic tools for communication, education and entertainment. KidCast prepares them for our evolving digital world, yet stimulates (protects) their "humanness." In today's hectic world, physical gatherings and high-touch environments tend to be replaced by non-physical electronic interaction. Through KidCasting, children make friends with their "foreign" counterparts. KidCast exists to facilitate young peoples' discussion about how to overcome life's challenges. KidCast stimulates the parents to provide better role models and to accept and respect the consciousness of their offspring; our future world leaders.

Most KidCast documentation can be found online at: http://creativity.net/kidcast2.html.