An odd mix of participants – “ambient DJs, academics, experimental arts promoters, nutty conceptual artists, hard-bitten journalists and certifiable, electronic nerds” – recently boarded a ship to hash out issues in electronic arts. “Like some variant on the archetypal ‘ship of fools’, the International Symposium for Electronic Arts 2004 decided to transport itself by boat from Helsinki (Finland) to Tallinn (Estonia), creating a hothouse for performers, discussions and socialising.”