Creating communal computers (Interview)

What It Covers

Spencer Chang creates Internet sculptures and computing shrines that blend physical objects with digital experiences using NFC technology, while promoting the Alive Internet Theory as a counter-narrative to dead Internet pessimism.

Key Questions Answered

• •NFC-embedded ceramics: Physical objects like fortune cookies and tokens contain RFID chips that trigger smartphone experiences through iOS Shortcuts, creating tangible-digital hybrids without requiring backend infrastructure knowledge or complex programming from creators building interactive web experiences.
• •Play HTML library: Open source JavaScript library enables collaborative web elements by adding single attributes to sync state across all users in real-time, with free infrastructure provided to eliminate backend barriers for non-technical creators building multiplayer experiences.
• •Computing shrines concept: Large-scale public sculptures create location-specific digital experiences accessible only at the physical site, like a phone booth where visitors hear the previous person's voice message and record one for the next visitor in an ephemeral chain.
• •Sustainable creative practice: Transitioned from engineering to independent art-technology work by treating creative output as business, securing commissions from organizations like Internet Archive, selling Internet sculptures through online shop, and applying for public art grants to fund experimental projects.