Francis Lam studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University of Hong Kong before receiving his Master’s degree from the MIT Media Laboratory in 2006. He is an artist, designer and engineer interested in creating new interfaces and environments for online communication. He is currently working on his new project db-db loves you (http://lovedbdb.com), which is a blog creator system and a platform for subtle online interactions.

林昇源，香港中文大學資訊工程學士，香港理工大學設計學士，並曾就讀於麻省理工學院的媒體實驗室 (2006)。林為pixel-art兼網路藝術家，專攻多樣化的藝術與設計領域， 2000年設立線上的設計平台(http://db-db.com)。他的作品在香港、日本、奧地利、與美國多地展示。

db.db.com (2005)

“db-db loves you” is a new web arena for exhibiting online identities and connecting like-minded individuals. It is a continuation of the online design community project db-db.com. Since 2001, db-db was started as an online inspiration outlet and a collaboration platform. It has fostered many self-initiated art and design projects. Now, with the surging of Blogs and social networking sites, db-db aims to help people create their own platforms - provide applications that can create sophisticated Blogs and web pages. It also attempts to advocate a different kind of online relationships.

In addition, establishing relationships on the Internet becomes so prevalent nowadays. Numerous social networking sites are trying to make links between people around the globe every minute. Many of them focus on helping the user expand their networks as fast as possible in order to make profits. However, we question the authenticity of these relationships, many of which are just based on a mere click, by creating a new networking system.

db-db takes on another approach in its social networking part. Although it is also set up as a place to make new friends, it is passive when you want to establish a link with somebody. For example, you can choose to add another db-db user to your love list, however, he/she will not be told who you are until he/she also adds you. Serendipity counts. Furthermore, db-db is a testbed for online relationships that based on time and effort. There are games that allow you to spend time, effort and even money to somebody in order to impress them or gain their trust.

“db-db loves you” 是一個旨於建立虛擬身分和關係的概念網路平台。從 2001 年開始在網路上成為提供藝術和設計資訊的虛擬社區，它亦鼓勵和發動了許多網絡的藝術創作。延續提倡個人創作的精神，這個最新的版本希望在 Blog 文化熾熱的年代打造另一個虛擬文化和關係的實驗場。

隨著社交網站的興起，每時每刻都會讓兩個人在網路上建立起關係。但很多這類型的網站，因為商業的考量，會把重點放在如何用最短的時間擴大人際網絡，而不著重於這段關係究竟真不真實或者質量如何。然而，db-db 的交友部份，卻是要用戶跟用戶之家建立一種比較含蓄的關係。我們不希望他們可以很容易地建立起關係，甚至要成為用戶也不簡單。他們需要提交一張驗證照，照片裡必須清楚地看見容貌和一樣寫著他的用戶名稱的物件；而建立關係之後，系統會透過一些遊戲讓他們付出時間和精神，用心來慢慢地經營。