The Field: the beginning

The second section covered by this module was entitled The Field. The focus of The Field is human ecology as it investigates the different ways in which we interact with the environment as human beings. In particular The Field is space orientated and involves the interaction of technology with the space around it. The aim of the section was to introduce different ways to access, percieve and construct space as well as map and manipulate the space around us. To begin The Field we were introduced to the concept of hertzian space and locative media.
Hertzian space is the concept of the space that is taken up by hertz based frequency transmissions. These transmissions are invisible to the naked eye and so are not ususally considered as filling any space at all. Examples of these transmissions include wifi, bluetooth, radio, tv,and mobile. All of these transmissions are broadcast through the air but due to the lack of any visual physicality are not considered to be using space. These transmissions however do hold a physical form, we just are not able to see the electromagnetic frequency at which they are viewable. Left is an example of a visualisation of the hertzian space based on mobile phone calls using balloons. By studying hertzian space a new view of the environment can be discovered in which the atmosphere is full of different hertzian materials.

Locative media on the other hand is media that communicates information at a defined location and technologies such as GPS enable locative media to function. The term locative media was created by Karlis Kalnins in order to distinguish between technologies that dealt with locations creatively and location-based services. By using locative media, people are able to investigate and experiment with the space around them in a new way.

By dealing with locative media and hertzian space through The Field project a new understanding of our environment in terms of technology and frequency can be discovered and investigated.