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.
 
Cell Phone Disco is a project by Auke Touwslager of Informationlab and Ursula Lavrencic of Megla.
 
> www.cellphonedisco.informationlab.org www.informationlab.org
> www.megla.org
 
Appearances:
> CTM.07