Archive for May 2007
Antenna aesthetics: other
Here are some antennas that I haven’t managed to find a category for:
Protection against birds
http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/P1010014output.birdnet.jpg
Heritage
http://www.msoe.edu/centennial/wallpaper/1024×768/WSOE_antenna.jpg
Boys in the field
http://81.191.136.233/bilder/peil/peil7.jpg
Testing aircraft antenna
http://www.afmc.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/041123-F-0000W-006.JPG
Cell site construction in Nigeria
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/109262650_457f89e48e.jpg?v=0
iSPOTS
img source: http://ispots.mit.edu/images/JPGtop.JPG
[ …. The iSPOTS project aims at describing changes in living and working at MIT by mapping the dynamics of the wireless network in real-time. Thus, the complex and dispersed individual movement patterns that make up the daily life of the campus can be revealed, helping TO answer many questions: Which physical spaces are preferred for work in the MIT community? How could future physical planning of the campus suit the community’s changing needs? Which location-based services would be most helpful for students and academics?…] and and how else can this data be used?
– the website includes data renderings, and realtime location/instensity maps of people using mobile phones on the campus.
Antenna aesthetics: urban
Examples of disguised sites in urban spaces
The award winning Aberdeen Umbrella (2006)
http://www.publicdataweb.com/PDW/images/images/News_Tender-image.jpg
Colour panels
The antenna panels blend in with the structure.
http://www.cellularpcs.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.ventblvd.encino.p1010.jpg
CEV Hatch with Bench
This bench hatch of a CEV (controlled environmental vault) used to house telecommunications equipment in a large, underground room.
http://www.cellularpcs.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.cev.bench.P1020038.jpg
Wifi access point on top of traffic light
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/access.jpg
Antenna aesthetics: camouflage/buildings
Examples of antennas hidden in/on buildings
A stand-alone site in a church cemetry
http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.cingular.20050606.westmnstr.memorial.park.P6060075.jpg
A multi-carrier site in a clock tower
http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.cerritostownecenter.P1050003.jpg
Antenna aesthetics: on the move
Watch her dance
Pole dancer for car radio:
http://www.yournutz.com/store/antenna-doll-raven-black-hair-pi-73.html?zenid=91e9952eb5e706b5eed227cc968a2553
Sniffer Girl
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/521162775_0a6bf41c4d.jpg?v=0
A “hidden” car roof antenna
http://www.stealth.ae/plugins/custompages/images/940b_14.jpg
Print your own book!
http://www.archive.org/iathreads/emailed-posts/brewster1033004364.P1010021.JPG
A donkey carrier: http://www.fototime.com/24784734E056C6A/standard.jp
Weight lifter
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/249/523838271_baecf0321f.jpg?v=0
High altitude balloon
High altitude balloon with VLF receiver and launch vehicle just before take off
http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/inspire/clip_image002_0002.jpg
A video still of the balloon in flight (looks like a flying condom)
http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/inspire/clip_image002_0004.jpg
The balloon that captured the first resolved images of the early universe.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/boomerang-browse.jp
The first portable satellite reception system in middle east (2004)
Small , Cheap & Light only 8 kg designed by Dr.Abdel.hamid farrag
holding it: http://farragsat.33host.com/images/hamidhand2.jpg
stroking it: http://farragsat.33host.com/images/ahmed1.jpg
on the car boot: http://farragsat.33host.com/images/adjust004.jpg
Watching tellitubies: http://www.klug.us/images/20months/babystroller2.jpg
Antenna aesthetics: nature?
Here are some examples of camouflaged antennas resembling nature’s wonders.
- Rock
A boulder offered by Larson Camouflage offering services for mobile communications with headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.
hatch closed : http://www.utilitycamo.com/photos/CEV%201.jpg
hatch open: http://www.utilitycamo.com/photos/CEV%202.jpg
This Wireless Rock in Santa Susana Pass, California houses one or more wireless antennas. The lifting ring bolt at the top of the rock is a nice touch.
outside view: http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.cellrock.PC040009.jpg
inside view (with 2 coaxial cables showing that the rock transmits and receives): http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cells.cellrock.inside.PC040016.jpg
A rock with a warning sign by Nextel at its Rocky Peak site in the Santa Susana Pass, California.
rock: http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cell.cellrock.nextel.PC040013.jpg
warning sign: http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_PC040012.JPG
- Cactus
Spot the antenna?
Saquaro Fountain Hills, Arizona: http://www.utilitycamo.com/photos/FtnHills1.jpg
- Tree stub
http://www.wallybloss.com/images/Antenna_in_tree.jpg
- Palm
California dreamtime, a palm in the sunset: http://www.utilitycamo.com/photos/sunpalms.jpg
A cell palm with a diamond shaped date!
(The “date” is a microwave panel for saving the carrier the cost of leasing a data line from the local telephone company.)
Pretty sad palms in Sprint’s Desert Hot Springs monopalm site.
- Pine
A pine antenna in San Diego County. The red light on the top of the cell pine tree warns off low flying helicopters.
http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/userpics/10001/normal_cell-i5-SanDCA-P1300007.jpg
A monopine – Lake Elsinore, California
- Bison
Verizon’s cellular bison, located in Carr, Colorado
distant: http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/ftp-noncamo/normal_cells.colorado.vzw.bison.i25.20060323.DSCN4188.jpg
close view: http://www.kramerfirm.com/cells/albums/ftp-noncamo/normal_cells.colorado.vzw.bison.i25.20060323.DSCN4181.jpg
Ambient Energy
What are the potentials of harnessing ambient energy, and “recycling radio waste”?
An article by Jim Borg at Starbulletin.com describes how a Hawaii-based research team is experimenting with harvesting electromagnetic waves in the environment for use as an alternative power source for battery-powered smoke/burglar alarms and other devices. But photon harvesting or beam scanning technologies can be put to other uses too – military and “homeland security”.
One of the challenges is to overcome the problem that ambient sources produce very small amounts of energy. On the other hand, the amount of energy needed to power devices is dropping.
The company, Ambient Micro LLC, based at the Maui Research & Technology Center, received approval from the Air Force for a $100,000 research contract to develop a prototype power supply for sensors on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones:
This is robofly [ …a stealth robotic flier that is actually the size of a fly. Squads of roboflies might one day be sent to search out targets, collect and provide information on damage assessment, or search for chemical and biological warfare agents…..]
(image by R. Fearing/UC Berkley, source: http://starbulletin.com/2006/04/10/news/art1b.jpg)
While the implications of the future uses of microscopic sensors powered by ambient energy can seem intimidating – tracking tags on supermarket products and even in your bloodstream – the first use of the technology might be for tracking endangered desert tortoises at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif!
[… “Since they are endangered, the Air Force can’t run their tests if the tortoises are on the test range,” says Weeker. ” However, since the adult tortoises have the habit of burrowing underground, the best way to track them is to put a tracking tag on their babies. The technical challenge of developing a very small RF (radio frequency) tracking tag that fits on the back of a baby desert tortoise may lead to many defense and commercial applications for low-cost, active and passive tracking of equipment, vehicles and people.”]
EM Urban Fountain – all things in flux
Urban art idea
I’m thinking about a fountain with water valves controlled by magnet solenoids that open and shut to control various pressures of coloured water streams according to electromagnetic activity, with ambient light and sound controlled by nature’s own magnetic fields, modulated by interventions of human-made fields – all things in flux.
Around the fountain are comfortable seats. You can sit by the fountain when you make a call on your mobile phone – watch, listen, feel humidity, airflows, relax. (Here I’m thinking about the strange way people’s eyes move when they make phone calls with mobs – eyes fluttering around, as if taking in the immediate surroundings. Sometimes settling on something, someone – eyes seem to focus, but then looking straight through, as if scanning for another point to fix on.)
For those with high electromagnetic sensitivity (EMS) it could indicate good and bad times.
But how do you build a fountain? Some examples I’ve found are listed below.
Time fountain by Nate True
This is interesting – a time fountain kit where a combination of fluorescent liquid and strobe lighting is used to make it seem as if the flow of water changes direction (time in flux)
The time fountain: http://cre.ations.net/creation/the-time-fountain
Cybernetic fountain
And here is a patent claim for a cybernetic fountain (inventor: Emilio C. Alba): http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5069387-claims.htm
Parker Hannifin Musical Fountain
[ …. A joint effort of Atlantic Fountains and Downing Exhibits of Copley Ohio, the fountain uses over 350 feet of Parflex tubing and hundreds of Parker Fluid Connector and Skinner Valve components. The 6ft pool has 30 nozzles & color lights driven by a PC, three octave MIDI keyboard or drum pad …..]
http://www.atlanticfountains.com/Musical_fountain_PH.htm
Instructions for how to build a musical water fountian:
Ghost Hunting 101
HC Gilje sent me a link to Ghost Hunting 101, that provides a short history and various electromagnetic detection techniques used by ghost hunters.
It also includes classifications of haunting (developed by TriPar )
Class A – Classic Haunting
Exhibits intelligence, interacts etc. Fun/hazardous. Can bite, hit, shove, kick, and throw objects.
Class B – Residual Haunting
A “recording of time” that keeps playing itself over and over. Speculation: residual “psychic” impressions left on the land or building due to extreme emotional stress.
Class C – Poltergeist Activity
Activity conducted by a human agent, often a pubescent child thought to be creating a PK Burst or PSI activity. MRI scans often show an increase in Theta brain wave activity and possible over activity in the Pineal Gland.
URL: http://web.archive.org/web/20060426235003/http://www.dagulfsghost.com/ghost101.htm
Electric walks
HC Gilje sent me a link to an ongoing project called Electric Walks (started 2003), by Berlin-based sound artist Christina Kubisch. Using sniffer headphones (that pick up electromagnetic waves and converts them into sound) she maps out hot spots in cities that are either very strong or interesting to listen to, and then loans the headphones out to the public. For an interview for Cabinet no. 21, she has provided 30 sound samples that she’s gathered while walking through various cities. You can listen to them here:
URL: http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/21/kubisch.php
The Electromagnetic Fountain 
