Imagine riding your bike through the darkened streets of Minneapolis on a warm summer night and coming upon another cyclist with a red blinking light. Alright, that isn’t hard to envision—most cyclists have flashing tail lights. But imagine that upon approaching said bicycle, your light and its light begin to blink in unison. Now picture […]
The Kuramoto Model (1000 Fireflies) will distribute 1000 interactive blinking LED devices to bicyclists who attend Northern Spark 2012. The devices are outfitted with microcontrollers and radio units that allow them to mutually and observably synchronize with others, as do certain species of firefly. In isolation these devices look similar to conventional LED cycling safety […]
We had a soggy start to the LynLake Street Festival today, but our hearty volunteers stuck it out in the rain with us anyway. Here they are, sporting the Kuramoto Model lights, corsage style. Thanks Isabel, Birdie, Angie, Sarah, and David!
It was a lovely day in Powderhorn Park for the annual May Day Festival. We lounged in the shade, passed out stickers and signed up people to volunteer for the festival. Thanks to our steadfast crew (Ted, Shannon, Erik, Angie, Birdie, Isabel) who talked to hundreds of strangers about Northern Spark. See a few more […]
For the past several months the staff of Northern Spark have held our weekly meetings at the Works Progress office above Roberts Shoes on the corner of Lake and Chicago. Last Thursday was our final meeting there, since we move into our week-of-festival tactical headquarters at the Soap Factory on Sunday. For weeks now I’ve […]
Want to join the blinking mass of Kuramoto riders in a ride leading up to the Stone Arch ride? Nice Ride staff will be leading a group ride departing from The Walker at 10:30 pm. The group will progress to Loring Park, stop at Hennepin and 4th Street, and then continue on to Father Hennepin […]
As you may already know, David Rueter’s project The Kuramoto Model (1000 Fireflies) will culminate in a midnight ride across the Stone Arch Bridge. Rueter has crafted 1000 synchronizing LED bike lights that will be distributed to Northern Spark visitors Saturday night at various information tents. Everyone who gets one of these lights is invited […]