Dyscern - Locative Art: The Aesthetics of GPS

Several years ago I was involved in an ambitious, top-secret project for Weyland-Yutani concerning RFID (radio frequency identification), the technology that uses embedded radio transponders as a kind of universal, invisible barcode system for people, places and manufactured items. RFID has since come under severe scrutiny for various health and privacy concerns, but back in those days we didn't sweat such small details. That's the fun of working in theoretical R&D for a ruthless technology firm.

I've since moved on, but have kept an eye of this area, mostly for some of the strange and cool aesthetic detours of RFID. Along with mobile computing and GPS (global positioning system) technologies, RFID is a key component of the nascent field of locative media, and its high-culture offshoot, locative art.

Locative media refers to digital media that is location-dependent, and therefore tied to a real-world locale. Combined with augmented reality, which has to do with virtual reality overlaying regular reality, locative art becomes a truly mind-bending new form. Let's say you have a virtual sculpture whose mathematical dimensions are being broadcast from a Wi-Fi transmitter at a very specific set of GPS coordinates. With the right coordinates, software and equipment -- laptop, virtual-reality helmet, what-have-you -- viewers can visit the site and "see" that sculpture in the context of the actual location. The sculpture isn't really there, of course, except that it is very specifically there. Or, in the spirit of the rhetorical question: If the sculpture isn't there, where is it?

Locative art suggests a future in which artists will create virtual works, specifically placed at GPS coordinates to overlay our regular, pedestrian reality. There could potentially exist millions of different "channels" -- different worlds, even -- which one could choose to perceive at any time. William Gibson's latest novel gets into this a bit, and it's all very fascinating if you look at it the right way.

On the other hand, it will probably just mean more advertising. I am always amazed at the efficeincy with which the ad industry subsumes new communication vectors. Coca-Cola probably already has a whole division on it.

How Nascent is Locative Art?
written by Greg, August 02, 2008

In Gibson's novel he portends a world of channels, and hints this new reality could already be available to those who have the right equipment and know where to look. Does anybody know how far along this movement is? Is there commercial equipment for viewing it? Are there works out there just waiting to be viewed?

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written by Doc Sam , February 20, 2008

I read a recent interview with William Gibson in which he predicts that augmented reality and VR will be so pervasive among future generations that our current divide between "real" and "virtual" will seem hopelessly quaint. I believe him.

i would love to 'see' this kind of work!
written by gabbe, February 20, 2008

the novel & the idea of locative art are truly fascinating & how excited I would be to be able to experience a work in this type of media!
I have to agree with you completely on the advertising aspect. Sadly, they already put multiple ads/product placement in video games so you know that advertising would be on full assault in 3d VR!..oh well- I guess all the cash for servers and to secure locations on the grid (not to mention manufacture VR gear for the masses)etc... has to come from somewhere! LOL! thanks for posting this article! It will be interesting to see what happens with this technology!

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