For those who grew up with the Internet, cell phones, GPS, and other modern technologies firmly in place, it’s difficult to imagine going through life without them. Even if you can remember when such antiquities as rotary phones, paper phone books, and foldout maps were ubiquitous, you’ve probably come to take for granted today’s technological advancements.
It’s a natural development for the human psyche, but not necessarily one we should let go without a fight. At least according to Timo Arnall, creative director at BERG, a London design consultancy, and research fellow at the Oslo School of Architecture & Design, in Norway.
A Norwegian artist draws attention to the power of GPS technology. From Eric Fischer.
Arnall is of the opinion that taking technology for granted is a slippery slope, one that can lead to a lack of understanding about how technology works, loss of control over technology, and loss of the ability to question its role in our lives—all legitimate concerns.
His recent work has focused on these concerns with installations including light paintings made of Wi-Fi signals and drawings created from RFID signals. His latest installation, “Satellite Lamps,” is an effort to bring about the necessary examination by specifically targeting GPS technology.
Many people have a vague understanding of how GPS technology works, though they may not fully grasp the technical details. For example, they may already know that GPS signals come from space—satellites, actually, that beam waves down to Earth from about 12.5 thousand miles away, according to a recent Wired article. Normally, we only “see” these waves when they translate to a blue circle on a maps app. Now, “Satellite Lamps” gives us a visual in real life, too. Near Oslo, Arnall and a team of designers have set up about 50 lamps equipped with GPS receivers. The lamps glow brightly or dimly depending on the ever-changing strength of the signal. (They’re positioned in various Norwegian locations—in fjords, fields, buildings, etc.—but if you can’t get to Norway to see them for yourself, you can always watch a film of and about the installation here.)
For those who’ve wondered how GPS signals actually work, “Satellite Lamps” could be illuminating. The designers emphasize in their work how the satellites become disoriented as they travel through space and also as they are blocked by buildings.
And if you’ve never wondered about GPS technology at all? You’re part of the installation’s target audience. Take a look and learn.