The Bass Station is an old-school boom-box with a WiFi access-point built in, along with: a 120GB hard drive, and an MP3 decoder, and that is controlled using a web browser. Besides being able to play MP3s, it can also stream audio to other devices in its local area network, double as a file-server for file-sharing.
Concept: The Bass-Station is a mobile, visually loud, and funky 1980s Boom Box. Imbedded within its shell is a modern computer and wireless networking components. By creating a locally accessible wireless network, people of an intimate community can use the Bass- Station as a hub through which they can freely and democratically exchange information. By actively observing the exchanges of a small community, you can learn things about that community that you couldn't by talking to any one of its members. The Bass-Station is also a shared stereo that makes its presence fun and entertaining. Historical Context: The familiar form of the Bass-Station, a large, classic, ghetto blaster, was chosen for its historical and symbolic implications. Since its introduction to mainstream culture, the Boom Box has become a symbol for spontaneous artistic collaboration. By bringing people of various skills and talents together, to share and explore each other's creativity, the ghetto blaster was a central element to the 1980's street culture. The Boom Box enabled people to meet spontaneously and independent of a fixed locale, to demonstrate new forms of dance they were inventing, expound new lyrics and rhythms to friends, hang out and be inspired by the activities going on, or simply to be a part of a localized community. Through these and other activities new relationships formed, shaping the unique and individual style of each community. Additionally, the mobility of the Boom Box allowed these communities to travel, bringing with them the ability to share their art with others, proliferating it across territories, and creating new styles and art forms. The Bass-Station is both a tribute and digital reconsideration of this tradition. read more about the bass station and view more photos via boing boing
