Signals of you
In Signalen van jou (Signals of you), Christy Westhovens reveals what is normally invisible: the signals sent out by our devices.
About Signals from You
Our environment is not only made up of physical structures such as buildings and roads, but also of invisible data streams from our mobile phones, e-bikes, or smart household devices. Every place has its own digital texture—a rhythmic noise of wireless communication.
Who designs these networks? How exactly do they work, and why do they work that way? How do they influence our movements, choices, and freedoms? And how can we take control ourselves—not just as users, but as co-creators of the technological landscape? To understand how these systems operate, we first need to make them visible.
Each panel within this installation represents a specific channel in the Bluetooth spectrum through which these devices exchange data. Every time information is received, the corresponding panel is triggered. Not just by your smartphone, but also by your earbuds, smartwatch, or electric bike. The busier it gets, the more panels start to spin. Suddenly, the vast amount of invisible information surrounding you becomes visible. You can’t help but ask yourself: What information am I sharing here, and with whom?
💡 Good to know: the measurements in this installation are not stored or used for any other purpose.
Credits
With thanks to all those who contributed and/or provided input, in alphabetical order:
- Arthur Elsenaar
- Britt van den Boogaard
- Dani Ploeger
- Kunstpunt
- Luca Tornato
- Maxigas, critical infrastructure lab
- Noorderlicht
- Pam Breedveld
- RevSpace, hackerspace Den Haag
- Tomi Hilsee
- En vele, vele anderen!
