What is Redundant Technology Initiative?

RTI is an arts group based in Sheffield, England. It started in 1997 with a group of artists who wanted to get involved with information technology, but didn't have the resources to buy computers. So instead they went about getting their hands on trash computers, finding new ways to be creative with old technology, then exhibiting the results.

Now RTI has accumulated hundreds of machines and has raised money to open a media lab, called Access Space where people can learn, create and communicate using trailing-edge technology. At last, after a series of frustrating delays, Access Space finally opened on April 6th 2000.

RTI continues to exhibit trash technology art around the UK and across Europe, and campaigns to advocate low cost access to information technology. RTI is still hungry for obsolete machines and runs an ongoing campaign that asks businesses and individuals to donate computers that they no longer use.

Why?

• Last year over 1 million PCs were dumped by British businesses. Most of this equipment ended up in landfill.
• Lateral thinking and a creative approach are ideal ways to unlock the potential of redundant technology. In this way we can investigate playfully and be creative with what the machines can do, rather than being frustrated by what they can't.
• What are computers for anyway - just tools for us to work more and consume more? We're much more excited by the empowering potential to create and communicate that computers give to individuals.
• There's been a lot of media attention given to art that makes use of the newest, most expensive computers. But a lot of these creations seem less like artworks than sales demonstrations for the latest technology.

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