Locative media uses technology to create digital experiences anchored in the physical space. Unlike the internet, locative media ties digital information to a specific place, creating opportunities for hybrid experiences that start with the physical environment and expand on a localized digital overlay. In this short talk, I'd like to share my experience working on a locative media project called Invisible Islands, a technological framework for creating information "islands" that can be used as a base for online/offline experiences. This project has had iterations in Aarhus, Denmark in partnership with the University of Aarhus; and Montreal, Canada in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. The Islands can be used to create interactive historical city walks, archiving street art and other ephemeral art practices, and site-specific cultural experiences. Locative media can have profound implications for the GLAM sector, and we are only just beginning to tap into its true potential for creating participatory experiences in an urban environment and activating under-utilized spaces. As part of this talk I will present the Montreal iteration of Invisible Islands: "Les îles invisibles" - in which I collaborated with well-known Canadian writer Daniel Canty. A story is told in fragments that the public has to collect by exploring known and lesser known parts of "le quartier des spectacles" in Montréal.
