Hi Peoples!

Just a quick update to let you know where we are with things and where we’re up to. Over the next 6 weeks we will be developing a micro-site which will let Londoners choose which shelters they would like Bus Tops displays to be installed on. There are two reasons for this – the first is that it is Londoners who will be seeing these in the main and so we think they should get to choose where they are! The second reason is that we of course will need to work closely with TFL/Clearchannel/Local boroughs planning departments/JCDecaux and the GLA in gaining overall permission as well as applying for planning permission, and so that process needs to start sooner rather than later.

The micro-site will use Google maps street view to display the locations of bus shelters across London, giving Londoners an easy and rich way of seeing where shelters are and their surroundings. As well as the project being focused on viewing from London’s buses, we are also very interested in selecting locations which are visible through the windows of local and especially public buildings. We’re starting work on the site next week and anticipate a 4 to 6 week build schedule.

The other thing we’re doing is figuring out the team members and location for starting the prototyping of the displays, which includes industrial design of the display housings to minimise environmental and other effects upon installation – remember, these displays need to weather the elements and stay ticking over for 13 months!

One thing to note for those of you who are looking forward to creating work for the canvases – the physical prototyping stage is going to be our focus for the next 12 months, so we will not start building the tools for artists to create/use for putting work on the canvases until early 2011.

That’s about it for now, we’ll keep you updated with news as it happens.