splatterlink - sinnzeug

A search engine where you control the way you want to search, by placing the keywords and watching the websites start to graviate around them like moths. Once you exhaust splatterlink's recommendations, jump over to Sinnzeug - an innovative way to navigate the net by the innovative minds of Ralph Ammer and Stephan Huber.

What is Sinnzeug?

Sinnzeug is the visualisation of a database compiles out of a collection of links to websites that we, for one reason or another, think are pretty, interesting, or stimulating.

Where did the inspiration for Sinnzeug come from?

Sinnzeug was created during our education at the University of Arts in Berlin. The assignment was to create an interface for the online presence of a prestigous design magazine. We however refused to work on that project and simplified the task instead: How can one make the use of databases more intuitive? We simply filled our example database with our favorite links.

The idea came relatively quickly together on a sunny afternoon in a Berlin café. Stephan had arranged data in constellations in a previous work. Ralph added the law of gravity and the interaction concept was complete, and we could begin with the work.

What have you used to create Sinnzeug?

At first paper and a black Stabilo point 88 fineliner. We scribbled all types of sketches and keywords. Only later did we transfer the concept to Macromedia Director and publish it in the Internet as a Shockwave file. The current version of Flash wasn't capable of fulfilling our requirements back then.

How did you end up with the five keywords?

Of course you can type in your own searchwords. Wir decided to make a selection of keywords available to communicate the concept persuasively. Since we ourselves were moving on a fine line between programming, art, and design and our favorite websites also dealt with these topics, it was the obvious choose to offer these keywords.

What value does Sinnzeug have for you?

The nice thing about the project was and is that thanks to an innovative idea, it manages to stand out from the mass of other Flash and Shockwave sites and simultaneously prove that the concept actually works.

In other words - we didn't just theoretically think up the concept (of the intuitive database - Ed.) in pretty pictures, we instead managed to manifest the concept in usable, verifiable form.

What goal does Sinnzeug have?

Sinnzeug eases the access to databases. The normal way is to have the user click through a hierachy of information. We wanted to counter it with an alternative where teh informative reorganises itself according to wishes and interests of the user. One can easily visualize the results and their interdependences by placing searchwords and changing their position on the screen.

It was of utmost importance to make both the extent of the database as well as its access as transparent for the user as possible to design it as intuitive as possible. That is why you can every entry in the database from the beginning. Sinnzeug tries to show that there are indeed intelligent and elegant solutions to the design problem at hand.

According to what criteria do you add websites?

Our discretion. If we like a website, because it is intelligent or funny or has some type of charm, then it is included.

What will you do when Sinnzeug is "full"?

When is a database ever full?

Which feedback have you already recieved?

Sinnzeug has been displayed on such events such as the Transmediale in Berlin and the Sonar-Festival in Barcelona, and it recieved an honorable mention for the category net-art during the Ars Electronica in Linz. In addition, a prestigous German car manufacturer has asked us to test the Sinnzeug-metaphor with problem cases in the car industry. The Internet has brought us interesting contacts and discussions through e-mails and websites.

Tell us a little about the creators of Sinnzeug.

Stephan: I am trying to somehow find a way to get ahead in the interface between art, design, and research, to earn money and not lose my ideals along the way. I see programming as a basic design tool and I am trying to research develop myself further in this direction.

I grew up in a Bavarian town of 3000 souls, then I studied Visual Communication in Berlin now live in Hamburg and enjoy the sunshine and the rain, nice people and the beautiful days.

Ralph: The work with computers in the areas of art and design still interest me. Sometimes I even earn money with it. In addition, I work on freelance projects and teach design with digital media at the University of Arts in Berlin.

Which other projects have you worked on?

Stephan: I finished my diploma work "Eine Welt der Wahrheiten" (A World of Truths) at the University of Arts last year. It was an attempt to make it possinble to experience hypertext in a three dimensional space. The rest can be found on my website. (http://digitalmind.de)

Ralph: An overview over a selection of projects I have worked on can be found on my website. (http://www.ralphammer.de)

What are your plans for the future?

Ralph: Continue! Rock the house!

Stephan: Make art and not sell oneself out.