Carly Sacco – Looking Outwards – 01

The Cell Phone Disco located in Pittsburgh is an interactive visualization of active mobile phones in the area. This project was created through the collaboration between artists from Informationlab and engineers. There are sixteen antennas that scan and receive the electromagnetic data from cell phones where eight processors then emit lights in the display to give a visual representation on a 16′ by 16′ LED board.

I thought this project was particularly inspiring and interesting because the placement of the installation is in an alley. Therefore, there are not many cell phone signals the art could receive besides the few people interacting closely. I think not only is this a thoughtful move on the artists behalf to have the piece largely exhibit an intimate signal, but that because people would have to go out of their way to find it, the piece holds more significance once found.