gsmson (nds version)

Introduction

Like many artists, I'm interested in electromagnetic wave phenomena. Cell phone towers (i.e., base stations) are ubiquitous, and, for GSM, send waves in the 16.7 and 33.4 centimeter range over the city. These waves get reflected and absorbed, diffracted and interfered with. Virtually the same mechanisms are in place for these waves as for visible light, which allows us to see the space we're inhabiting and record it with a camera. Because waves behave differently depending on their length or frequency, I was curious how we would perceive a city under the much longer wavelength of GSM signals. To that end, I experimented with turning the signal strengths of several nearby cell phone towers into sound.

At Schmiede 09

At last year's Schmiede, I used an ancient Nokia cellphone (the infamous 3310) together with a Nintendo DS game device that allows for running custom programs. Using this apparatus, the signal strengths coming from various cell phone towers surrounding the Pernerinsel are being continuously queried and used as the basis of a (quite primitive) additive sound synthesis running on the Nintendo DS.

Carrying the devices is made possible using a minimal harness made of gaffer tape sewed together - big thanks to Maria for helping hands & equipment!

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Creator: gottfried
Created: 03. 06. 2010
Tags: audio gsm nds sonification waves