WiredRadio: A Study of Living with Radio Awareness

This paper reports on early field explorations with WiredRadio. WiredRadio is a device that intercepts 2.4GHz radio activity and based on the received data signal strength activates a motor with a string attached to it. Similar to the classical ‘dangling sting’ installation by Jeremijenko, the more wireless network traffic there is, the more will the string move. The paper discuss insights derived from a field deployment where WiredRadio was installed in a family house for three weeks. The insights deals with the family’s perception and understanding of WiredRadio, their relationship with WiredRadio as an artifact and ambient display and how WiredRadio influence their understanding of wireless data traffic and what it may represent.