The final product will be an electromagnetic field detector.

It is based on the Marconi magnetic detector, which is an early radio wave detector.

It is basically an iron wire running that you can turn, it is magnetized in one direction first, then run through antenna wire which is connected to the antenna on one end and ground on the other end. After that it is magnetized again, this time in the opposite direction as the first. The antenna wire is connected to audio pickup.

I wanted to do something which was without batteries and electronics. So it is an extremely simple device which, in theory, could be made to work, although my version is missing a crucial part – audio pickup and speakers or similar. So even though – theoretically – it would be possible to detect radio waves, it is not able to communicate them/play them.

The twisted wire surrounding the iron wire is the radio frequency excitation coil, which is basically where the radio waves are detected.

Sketch

I made a version using not iron wire (since I did not have iron wire unfortunately), but aluminium. Aluminium wire is not usually considered magnetic (which is crucial), but it is actually magnetic, just not as easily to magnetize/polarize than iron etc.

Final product.

Very DIY-ish but I’m OK with it. I like that it is on felt and the possibility of magnetizing the wire in the middle and then changing the magnetization I think is interesting. That it actually possibly could work (in of course a way more advanced – and more precise – version) is exciting.

Having many problems with this project:

BUT looking into:

Digital data as ghosts

Imagine: a postapocalyptic state where digital data still exists but can not be accessed or modified. It is a ghost state – not dead and not living (or at least: not developing/changing – other than probably slowly decaying/disappearing) I imagine the last human on Earth would want to “tap into” this digital data or somehow at least be aware of the digital data – where it is placed. Perhaps the last human is scared of it (as we can be of ghosts), or perhaps the last human is interested in it — somehow figuring out a way to use this digital stuff…/access it as a library/archive — memory etc.

So I have been looking into ghost detection techniques used for paranormal investigations.

The tendency is to use different types of cameras as well as electromagnetic field detection. Detection of electromagnetic fields is very interesting for me because it fits well with the idea of digital data (electricity basically) as well as the idea of the ghost.

Different sources:

http://io9.com/5875212/meet-the-emf-meter-the-little-tool-that-ghost-hunters-swear-by

Homemade EMF detector

EMF measurement

But also:

Magnetoception in animals

 

But it should be more simple (but this particular example is no good)

Perhaps it should be as simple as dowsing

 

 

 

Two examples of liminal spaces: gothic church doors

 

Gerhard Richter: Woman descending staircase

Wikihow on how to avoid ghosts

“Ok here’s what happened about a week ago i was on my computer messing around and decided i was going to take a nap for about an hour so i went to sleep and left my computer on. About 40 minutes into my sleep I’m awakened by my computer making very strange noises my first thought was o crap i have a virus or someone hacked my system its sounded like the comp was in its death throws when out of nowhere a strange white see though person just materialized out of the modem and walked to my door which was slightly open. It walked though it which actually shut the door and freaked me the hell out. (…) My question is could this be a ghost or some other highly advanced being using the internet like its own personal highway. I was thinking a being that is pure energy could acomplish a tash such as this and thats kind of what this thing looked like maybe it was interdimentional and we gave it a great means to travel though our dimension with the wifi cell towers and electrical grid”

Ghosts using internet connections from user on the AboveTopSecret Forum.

A mother chatting with ghost of a dead daughter in the early days of the internet via Unexplained Mysteries

 I am very interested in this type of completely illogical or senseless stories: why would an interdimensional being travel through wires and wifi? Why does it need that specific medium? I am very fond of the logic behind stories like that. And how do we decide what is a “highly advanced being”? Why is the internet – which IS traveling through these wires etc. – not considered a highly advanced being? Many reasons why but still it is interesting to follow the logic behind these stories.

Hunter/gatherer rituals

Remembrance

OR an obsolete item

Something like an archive

Again: Aby Warburg

Why is it good to remember the past?

It is a device that is supposed to help the last human on Earth, but it actually makes him feel worse.

 

Aby Warburg Mnemosyne Atlas

History repeating itself

Ghosts of history

A ghost

A ghost

A spirit

But we already have the oracle

But maybe it is not a tool, it is instead something that haunts him.

The undead

The archive as something undead; the archive as a ghost. In a way: in the future the internet will be a ghost, because it is no longer updated, but merely a kind of living/physical entity which “haunts” the last human.

So screens as ghosts– screens as something living in itself but not doing anything bad or good but just existing in a kind of parallel or liminal space.

The screen as a liminal space

 

The final product will be a wristband with a magnet on, and a small plastic container, also with a magnet attached, where there will be live worms inside the plastic container.

There were two iterations of this product. The first was with felt and second with a plastic bracelet instead of felt.

Initial sketch.

Finding mealworms at a local pet store

Felt, mealworms, magnet and plastic container

Bended felt to make the wristband

Felt wristband with magnet

I did not like this version so I discarded it and used another material instead of felt.

Same principle but other materials: all plastic and magnets.

I like this version better and this is also the final version.

Cockroach farm wristband / bracelet

Wristband worm farm (because cockroaches were sold out)

Domestication of animals, but since the last human on Earth is a nomad and there is almost no animals left (only beetles etc), the last human carries around a cockroach farm on his arm.

a 40-50 mio. years old cockroach

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockroach

WORMS:

The lindworm – Nordic folklore animal, mythical creature. Appears in many tales, for instance: “King Lindworm” about a worm king who eats all his brides.

So the container should have small lindworms in them. As if the lindworm is the last remaining animal on Earth. Or one of the last remaining animals on Earth.

So it is both for capturing them and cultivating/growing them

FELT

Materials

Nasa gardens

Florafelt wall gardens

 

Joseph Beuys works in felt

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7eEfZ2aOIQ

Something involving domestication of animals

Like ants

Cockroaches

Cuts of felt –

It is the question of DOMESTICATION

Domestication of animals, of plants