THE MOBILE COMMONS
ALEXANDER CHEMERIS — FAIRWAVES (RU), SEAMUS MCGETTRICK, KEITH NOLAN, RACHEL O’DWYER, COLMAN O’SULLIVAN — CTVR (IE) & TIM REDFERN (IE)
EXHIBIT
SAT 30.06.12 - SUN 01.07.12
12:00 - 18:00
WORKSHOP
SAT 30.06.12, 14:00 - 15:00
SUN 01.07.12, 13:00 - 14:00
Traditionally, cellular networks required access to specialised tools and
knowledge and consequently were costly to implement. Recent advances
in radio and open source software have dramatically reduced such costs,
allowing for new forms of open and nonproprietary activity to occur
within this field. This new access to communications infrastructure has
radical implications which impact our urban planning, and draw attention
to the need for a commons core infrastructure that is comparatively
free from commercial expropriation or sovereign intervention.
To join the network, visitors will receive a text message from
The Mobile Commons, welcoming them and assigning individuals
a unique identifier. Users of the network will be able send and
receive calls and SMS messages within the gallery, free of charge.
This two-day intervention will include the communications network,
a central hub of hardware, open source VOIP software and an
ethernet backhaul. Two engineers will be onsite to manage core
operations and facilitate public engagement. Accompanying graphical
material will provide visitors with key information about the project,
while an ambient real-time visualisation will map activity taking
place between handsets currently connected to the network.
Drop in to the informal workshop sessions that will take place as
part of The Mobile Commons and learn how mobile phones and
GSM technology works, including a technical overview of Open BTS
software, which was used to implement the project and hear about
similar open source initiatives taking place around the world.
BIO: Rachel O’Dwyer is a lecturer, completing a PhD on the Political
Economy of Mobile Networks at the Centre for Telecommunications
Research (CTVR), Trinity College Dublin. Keith Nolan, Seamus McGettrick
and Colman O’Sullivan are researchers at CTVR, whose expertise lie
in wireless communications systems and reconfigurable networks.
Alexander Chemeris is a software developer and CEO of Fairwaves,
an open source telecommunications company based in Moscow.
Tim Redfern is a developer, visual artist and designer based in Dublin
whose practice encompasses digital media, programming and electron
Traditionally, cellular networks required access to specialised tools and knowledge and consequently were costly to implement. Recent advances in radio and open source software have dramatically reduced such costs, allowing for new forms of open and nonproprietary activity to occur within this field. This new access to communications infrastructure has radical implications which impact our urban planning, and draw attention to the need for a commons core infrastructure that is comparatively free from commercial expropriation or sovereign intervention. To join the network, visitors will receive a text message from The Mobile Commons, welcoming them and assigning individuals a unique identifier. Users of the network will be able send and receive calls and SMS messages within the gallery, free of charge. This two-day intervention will include the communications network, a central hub of hardware, open source VOIP software and an ethernet backhaul. Two engineers will be onsite to manage core operations and facilitate public engagement. Accompanying graphical material will provide visitors with key information about the project, while an ambient real-time visualisation will map activity taking place between handsets currently connected to the network.
Drop in to the informal workshop sessions that will take place as part of The Mobile Commons and learn how mobile phones and GSM technology works, including a technical overview of Open BTS software, which was used to implement the project and hear about similar open source initiatives taking place around the world.
BIO: Rachel O’Dwyer is a lecturer, completing a PhD on the Political Economy of Mobile Networks at the Centre for Telecommunications Research (CTVR), Trinity College Dublin. Keith Nolan, Seamus McGettrick and Colman O’Sullivan are researchers at CTVR, whose expertise lie in wireless communications systems and reconfigurable networks. Alexander Chemeris is a software developer and CEO of Fairwaves, an open source telecommunications company based in Moscow. Tim Redfern is a developer, visual artist and designer based in Dublin whose practice encompasses digital media, programming and electronics.