Construction sign recommissioned for public SMSing

Let's face it: your thoughts and ideas are just way more important than everyone else's. Artist Stefhan Caddick knows this, and that's why for three days he wants you to post all your deep and witty observations on a recommissioned construction sign located in the UK's Hayes Island. From 10 AM to 11 PM on October 28th, 29th, and 30th, anyone in the world can SMS 07929 461727 and have their 144-character-or-less message be queued up on a Leaderboard sports Variable Message Sign for public consumption. The "Storyboard" display, co-designed by Caddick and programmer Chris Evans, is part of the Cardiff Festival of Creative Technology, and will be moved to Gallery 39 afterwards for a December showing. Oh, and for those of you who think it would be funny to use this display to cast your American Idol vote—well it would be.

[Via textually]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Does texting overseas cosy money? or is this service completely free?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

its totally free. its like how text travels on the internet for free. you will not be charged in any way.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

That's like SO last century :) We used to have one of those in Helsinki back in circa 1999-2000 on the outer wall of a now bankrupt company WapIT, which developed wap and sms gateways.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Just imagine the possibilities for spammers. Better have some way to override the output!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Well that's not entirely true. Not everyone can send text messages for 'free'. I think the standard rate is 10 cents per message. Unless of course you pay for an unlimited plan...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Reminds me of metababy.com. There is a potential for abuse though.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

'Hayes Island' is the name of an open air sandwich place in 'The Hayes' , which is a square in Cardiff.

It's not actually an island :)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

DJ, yes, but you can text through many websites or AIM for free.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

For those of you that don't do international texting too often, you would enter the number like this in your mobile: [phone]. You can use 011 instead of +44 if you're too inept to find the plus key.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

4. shhhhhhhhh

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

It would be really cool if you could see your own message on that wall thing. I am sure they have filter in place to remove certain messages with curse words or something, who knows?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

"ur m3at needs swelling buy vjaggra ch3ap www.domain.com"

So much for the filter...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Just found an excuse to go to Cardiff on the weekend now, love my nations capital :D

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Awww. I miss my birthplace. It's so far away from California...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

"Do you like p3ni5es?"

fun fun fun

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

For more info on the Festival, check out the May You Live in Interesting Times blog at http://mayyouliveininterestingtimes.org/weblog/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Re: Filter.
messages go to Stefhan who then decides what he forwards to sign. Over the weekend so far he has had thousands of messages. Local business jumped at chance for free advert and stef let a few through, including for the guys selling Big Issue (a homeless charity magazine). He stopped big business messages and put through any independents.

The sign had three marriage proposals, some creative and edgy comments, along with jokes, insults, and surreal word play. Check out the festival blog for more details.