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November 21, 2002
the electrosmog diviner - just in time for Christmas
One of those throwaway ideas:
This came out of people hiring feng-shui consultants and their ilk when moving house. In the future, what will be important factors in deciding where to live? If we consider pervasive computing, the smog of wireless networks and data will decide where to live. This is important down to the point of room-by-room analysis, hence the need for a handheld device that divines the smog and shows the flows of information*.
So, what would the electrosmog diviner do?
At a base level it would detect:
* GSM networks, their strength, and GPRS availability
* Wi-fi access, open and closed
* 3G availability and strength
But this could be extended in many ways.
Firstly, a "leisure" version would add:
* Channel 5, Freeview and DAB availability
and, somehow, if you gave it your postcode it could check for cable (+ cable modem) and ADSL.
Another idea builds on the current meme of that virtual social networks can never be as strong as physical social networks, mainly because they can't come and help you find your cat when it's escaped (I could be horribly wrong, but I think the two Matts have written about it).
From your location, it could devine how strong the social networks around you are (maybe using the wonderful sites such as upmystreet conversations.
In some ways, I just like the idea for the fact that the network influences your decisions in meatspace, in the same way as proximity to a tube line. Would estate agents start marketing properties on their connectedness?
*Doors of Perception is gradually coming together for me. One of the themes was that flows tend to be invisible and hard to visualise.
...and in other news...
I'm probably moving. Hurrah! Nothing signed yet, so tempting fate. Not sure if there's a BT line ready and willing in the new flat, which prompted a lot of the above.
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