Inventory-ing Episode 5: Spencer Chang
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Feb 28, 2025 Spencer Chang, an inventive artist, engineer, and toy maker, explores the intersection of play and technology. They share their transition from a VC-backed tech startup to a unique blend of art and communal computing. The discussion highlights the PlaySqML programming interface, emphasizing real-time collaboration, customization, and the impact of digital tools on creative workflows. Chang also reflects on the necessity of human connection in digital spaces amidst the nostalgia for early internet interactions and addresses sustainability challenges in the tech and art sectors.
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Career Shift
- Spencer Chang transitioned from software engineering at a VC-backed startup to independent art, software, and product design.
- This shift was inspired by a Twitter recommendation of a poetic web project, showcasing technology's artistic potential.
Discovering Creative Tech
- Many people enter creative tech spaces after encountering an unexpected project that expands their understanding of technology's possibilities.
- This highlights the internet's relatively untapped potential beyond productivity and commercialization.
PlayHTML Workshop
- During a PlayHTML workshop, participants quickly created diverse interactive web experiences, like a horse race game and tug-of-war.
- This demonstrated the library's power to foster collaborative, shared digital experiences, contrasting with typical isolated computer use.