Cell Phone Disco

CELL PHONE DISCO An electromagnetic experience

Cell Phone Disco is a playful experimental installation made out of flashing cells. By multiplication of a mobile phone gadget, only slightly altered consumer product, we created a space to experience the invisible body of the mobile phone.

Flashing cells basically consist of one or more LEDs, battery and a sensor that detects electromagnetic (EM) radiation transmitted by an active mobile phone. When the sensor detects EM waves it sets off the LEDs to flash for a couple of seconds. In general the flashing cells are enclosed in a plastic casing on a strap and sold as a fashion accessory for a mobile phone.

The Cell Phone Disco installation has two parts:

MOBILE AURA
Flashing cells with sensors of higher sensitivity are used to detect electromagnetic radiation of active mobile phone in a range of approximately a meter. This way a sort of aura appears around the phone, revealing a part of it's invisible body.

While the user moves around talking on his phone, this aura follows the conversation as a light shadow through the space.

MOBILE DRAWING
Much less sensitive cells are used to create a canvas for an inkless marker. The LEDs get activated only by an extreme proximity of the electromagnetic source. Moving the phone close to the cells therefore leaves a trace of light, an temporary electromagnetic drawing.

http://cellphonedisco.informationlab.org/

Cell Phone Disco is on view until September 17 2006 at:

LAMBALL BAKRA - Baschz en Friends
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MAMA showroom for media and moving art
Lamball Bakra Exhibition
Witte de Withstraat 29-31
3012 BL Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Contact:
—
For questions, press material and images:

Informationlab.org
Frederik Hendrikstraat 113-A
1052 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands

[email protected]

Cell Phone Disco is an installation by
Auke Touwslager and Ursula Lavrencic.