Teletile is a drawing app that uses multiple smartphones as a shared canvas.
Mind you there are quite some passages to follow before start the actual drawing, but please bear with us. The development of this app is part of our research on human-assisted software, where tools could be seam-full and clumsy, and where human intelligence can actively interface these so-called issues with care and flair.
Gather some people and find a surface where to place your devices. To initiate new Teletile, first select the number of participants. Teletile requires at least two people, but there's no limit to how many can draw together. (Well, maybe 8 billion, because that the max amount of people on the planet atm ah ah kidding)
From this page you can the shape of the Teletile. The compositions are randomly generated, with the condition of at least having one side connected. When you are happy with the arrangement of the tiles, click on .
You will receive a link to share with the rest of the group. You can send it via chat, or use the provided QR code. Everyone received the link? Then !
Now is the moment to negotiate with the group who will be which tile. Figure out together how to position the phones, and how to make space for everyone to reach a piece of the shared canvas.
IMPORTANT! Make sure each phone take different tile number. When positioning the devices, match the orientation of the canvas.
All good? Then, this is probably the moment to brainstorm what to draw. Feel free to get inspired by the shape of the tiles! Do you envision a snake? An octopus? A garden with trees with tangled roots and branches? The dinning table after a feast? Or do you imagine interweaved abstract patterns spreading out through the canvas? Whatever that is just be playful and spontaneous!
When you are all ready to start drawing, click on !
On the canvas there is a minimal toolbar: on the left, it is a
menu button, where you can find all
sort of useful utils. On the right, is your loved
undo feature, to
ctrl-z any drawing disaster just happened.
Okay, once the group is happy with the drawing, great! Now everyone must submit their part, by going to the menu bar and click . This will save the tiled drawing in the database, setting it in the stone.
Please! Leave some notes. We would love to know some context around your drawing!
Maybe you can write about the process. How did people move around their phones? Did you draw on your own devices, or found your fingers moving across different displays? Were there any funny moments, or unexpected friction? Who was there with you, how did the drawing changed before the actual drawing, etc.
After submitting, you will reach to a display view, with the resulting patchwork. Mind that the various slices will load after people sending it, so try to refresh the page from time to time, until you see all the tiled drawings.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Last but certainly not the least, you can download the Teletile as an image!!! Maybe share it with your friends! Print on tattoo paper! Make zines! Do it again! You tell us!!!
You can reach out to us at mail@draw-it-with-others.org