Seven Mile Boots by Laura Beloff, Erich Berger, Martin Pichlmair


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Title:


    Seven Mile Boots

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Artist Statement:


    The project Seven Mile Boots consists of a pair of networked, interactive shoes with audio. One can wear the boots and explore like a flaneur in the physical world and in the world of the internet. Chatting on the net has become something of a phenomenon during the last decade. There is an endless communication among online communities in online chats. The Seven Mile Boots piece is built upon using feet and shoes as an interface with which to move in the text-based, non-space of the chat room. The physical aspect of the piece consists of a pair of boots containing a computer with wireless network access, sensors, amplifiers and loudspeakers. The boots are ready to function in any location with an open wireless network, and operate via two different modes: walking through the net and standing/listening to chat-activity.

    The user wearing the Seven Mile Boots becomes a kind of a super-voyeur, who is able to search in several places and observe various situations simultaneously on the net. They can observe the life on the net and listen to on-going conversations between people in chat rooms. As users walk in the physical world they simultaneously stroll through the net in search of chat rooms. As the user walks around it is possible to locate an active chat through audio. You will hear yourself passing ‘through’ a chat and decide yourself whether or not to stop, listen, or join in. The boots automatically log into the chat rooms under the name “sevenmileboots”.

    The Seven Mile Boots project was created by the artists Laura Beloff, Erich Berger and Martin Pichlmair, all of whom are currently living and working in Oslo, Norway.

    In the ISEA2004 Fashion Show, the Seven Miles Boots enabled the wearer to walk simultaneously in the physical world and in the Internet.

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