Soothing lag on osi reference model layer 3

Abstract

In the interactive video installation, visitors trigger the playback of a live stream from Tokyo, interspersed with live streams of video surveillance from data centres. The rhythm of these overlaying livestreams is dictated by a traceroute-command from the installation's location to a server in Japan, creating a tangible manifestation of lag.

This project redefines infrastructural properties, shifting our perspective from seeing them as mere constraints to recognizing their affordances and capabilities. By disrupting the seamless experience of the internet, the installation transforms lag into a joyful reminder of our everyday digital interactions.

The materiality and rhythm of the video itself are enhanced through decompression artifacts and framebuffering the user interaction, weaving a complex, interactive tapestry. This installation highlights the anxieties and dependencies on our complex and often incomprehensible technological systems, inviting viewers to perceive lag as a meaningful aspect of digital infrastructure.