Bop Spotter

I installed a box high up on a pole somewhere in the Mission of San Francisco. Inside is a crappy Android phone, set to Shazam constantly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's solar powered, and the mic is pointed down at the street below.

Heard of ShotSpotter? Microphones are installed across cities in the United States by police to detect gunshots, purported to not be very accurate. This is that, but for music.

This is culture surveillance. No one notices, no one consents. But it's not about catching criminals. It's about catching vibes. A constant feed of what’s popping off in real-time.

Participants express enthusiasm for the innovative technology behind Bop Spotter, describing it as a "live exploration of concepts through technology." The main technical insight highlights how a Tasker script records audio and utilizes Shazam's API to identify music tracks in real-time.

Another recurring theme in the discussion is the artistic and cultural implications of the project. One user notes, "It lightheartedly challenges some conventions," emphasizing how Bop Spotter not only identifies music but also sparks conversations about privacy and creativity in urban spaces.