BackTalk
Carlo Ratti (Italian, born 1971)
Assaf Biderman (Israeli, born 1977)
Dietmar Offenhuber (Austrian, born 1973)
David Lee (American, born 1984)
Jennifer Dunnam (American, born 1982)
Paolo Patelli (Italian, born 1984)
Aaron Siegel - (American, born 1984)
E Roon Kang (Korean, born 1980)
Francesco Pilla (Italian, born 1980)
Douglas Albert (American, born 1989)
of SENSEable City Lab (est. 2003)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(USA, est. 1861)
2011
Processing and custom software
With globalization, the removal chain that
takes trash from the garbage can to the
processing and recycling facilities is
increasingly complex. Waste from Los
Angeles could resurface as carpeting in
Alabama or even clothing in China. Back
Talk provides insight into the process as
it applies to our electronic waste: batteries,
sensors, circuit boards, and other
components. Back Talk tags these
defunct electronic devices with a small
camera, accelerometers, and location
sensors so that they can, in turn, enjoy
a “second life” as self-reporting guides
into the intricate global networks of
e-waste export and reuse. The resulting
images offer a unique brand of reportage,
allowing glimpses into e-waste recycling
villages, thrift stores, public schools, and
libraries across the world, and provide
silent commentary on our personal and
global relationships to these devices.
SENSEable City Lab is collaborating
Qualcomm Inc., the World Computer
Exchange, the Peace Corps, World Teach,
and Electronic Recyclers.
Category: Worlds
Tags: Communications / Maps / Visualizations / Networks
