The ultimate social network

October 25, 2008

The British design collective rAndom International, together with artist-programmer Chris O'Shea, have created an exhibition, called Audience, that provides, literally as well as figuratively, a mirror image of our hyperconnected selves. The installation consists of 64 robotic mirrors, each of which "moves its head in a particular way to give it different characteristics of human behaviour. Some chat amongst themselves, some shy away and others confidently move to grab your attention."

But what's most interesting is the way the mirror-bots behave as a social network: "When members of the audience occupy the space, the mirrors inquisitively follow someone that they find interesting. Having chosen their subject, they all synchronise and turn their heads towards them. Suddenly that person can see their reflection in all of the mirrors. They will watch this person until they become disinterested, then either seek out another subject or return to their private chatter. The collective behaviour of the objects is beyond the control of the viewer, as it is left entirely to their discretion to let go of their subject."

I'm agape.

The exhibition debuted last month at the Royal Opera House in London, where the videos were shot. I discovered it via a post by Kottke who found it via a post by Sippey. And so, link by link, we turn our collective gaze toward the mirrors that return the favor. It seems like something Escher might have dreamt up.

Posted by nick at October 25, 2008 02:38 PM