The cellular network surrounds us, it drapes over and passes through the more tangible aspects of our day to day lives but it is not a part of them unless we make it so. The cellular network is nothing without our involvement, without the connections formed by our continuing personal, social, and economic interactions.
We want to invite the participants to form new connections with each other in a spatial abstraction of the network, an open ended experience through which to show how the cellular network keeps us constantly connected, contactable and distracted. The space will be filled with objects whose form and function refers to devices that have allowed us to activate the cellular network, to form human to human connections through it. These devices will vye for the visitor’s attention in different ways, turning the initially calm space of the storybox into an active space to explore.
When the participant nears an object, it will react and start to glow and vibrate. Taking hold of an object will cause it to stop vibrating and produce sound instead. It will also cause it to attempt to make
a connection with another device in the room. The other device with start glowing and vibrating. If another person/ the same person takes hold of it, the two devices will communicate symphonies of sound together. This connection will be visualized on a screen.
a connection with another device in the room. The other device with start glowing and vibrating. If another person/ the same person takes hold of it, the two devices will communicate symphonies of sound together. This connection will be visualized on a screen.
Interaction
Whether there is one person or ten, interaction and play is possible. The visitor can discover the different sounds of the devices on their own or in groups and make symphonies/ connections. As the visitor gets closer to an object it starts glowing and vibrating, inviting them to hold on to it. Taking hold of the object triggers another device to glow and vibrate, attracting other participants to interact with it.
Holding on to an object will add to the overall soundscape of the space- each object having a particular style of sound - creating a sound/symphony that will then encourage play and connections. For observers this will be engaging to see and hear others making connections and creating sounds, for the wanderer there is the option to watch the devices glow and vibrate according to their proximity.
The upstairs balcony also has connected devices that can trigger each other as well as the objects downstairs. The upstairs visitors can also interact and make symphonies using the devices encouraging human connections and contact across the floors.
Multisensory
Using touch, sound and sight allows visitors with hearing or seeing disabilities to participate and experience this storybox. If one cannot hear the sounds made, there will still be light from the devices indicating connections and, vice versa, the screen and space.
Initial sketch of the connector form
Data & Display
The dots on the screen correspond to the positions of the hanging devices in the storybox. When connections between the devices are made, they will form lines on the screen.
The map could appear after the initial interaction with devices as to not distract from the experience. Its purpose is to leave an imprint of the visitor, as well as to aid the hearing impaired.
A further idea of collecting data would be record the symphonies created inside the storybox and share them with the visitor.
This is a group project. Project-collaborators include Oliver Smith, Laura Gotlib, Nata Vikulina and Meng Yang
