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November 11, 2005
Cells
Elevator pitch: I would like to create a series of dome-style habitats constructed from discarded cell phone components (i.e. adapters, skincases, beltcases, phoneclips, earpieces, batteries, SIM cards, phone bodies, etc.) These habitats would have small entrances that one or two people could crawl into and sit inside. Inside the fabric of the dome, the viewer would encounter a planetarium-like display of blinking displays, LEDs, and vibrating motors. There is also a possibility for expansion into other recorded elements as well.
Keywords: Technological Detritus, Cellphones, Urban habitats, Sound and Light display
 |  From Danwen Xing's disCONNEXION series, 2003 |
Left: Electroland's Urban Nomad Shelter Right: Jörg Student's Ha-Ori Shelter
In today's society of communications technology, the speed of advancement and commerce have left a heap of discarded physical materials that have been used and quickly abandoned by our culture of rapid obsolescence. Much of this waste ends up being deposited in parts of the world such as China's Guandong Province, as evidenced here in Danwen Xing's disCONNEXION series of photographs. There are also more and more people considering creative ways to afford people shelter in urban spaces. While this project would not be practically fit for such actual use, I believe it could recall the need for such environments by underscoring how much material gets devoted to eventual waste while people still lack suitable shelter.
What is the intent for your project? The intent of this projcct is to create an intimate sculpural space for people to travel into that will force a dialogue about the use of physical materials for technology and the possibility of diverting this waste. Simultaneously, by using old cell phone parts to create light and sound, a sort of synaesthetic experience would result.
Describe the starting point for someone experiencing your project? The viewer would first be confronted with the exterior texture of the habitat. The overlapping cords and plastics would provide a visceral visual experience that would force the viewer to contemplate the contemporary problem of technological obsolescence and waste. Then the viewer will notice the opening in the habitat and crawl into it to watch the flickering of lights and hear the buzzing of motors. Ideally, two or three people would occupy this space for a while, allowing conversation between people to make the space truly come alive.
What does your project provide that other similar projects do not provide or provide differently? This project addresses simultaneously the need for new types of urban shelters and the problem of our communication technologies leaving negative traces on our environment. I think it could be interesting to include a piece like this in the ITP show to remind us that as we continue to advance in technology, we should strive for socially-wise and eco-friendly ways of production and design.
What are the resources available to you today for this project? The resources necessary for this project could be found in bulk from sidewalk salesman and junk shops on Canal Street as well as by sending a call to the ITP community and our friends for unused cellphone components. A space along a wall on the 4th floor would be ideal for placement of the dome. The project would thrive with a group of 5 or more people. Estimated budget is around $100.
My spatial design project page can be reviewed at http://itp.nyu.edu/~rcc273/spatial/.
Posted by Robert Croft at November 11, 2005 09:12 AM