Microcosmos – a piece of digital jewellery for the plane
Microcosmos is a hand-held piece of digital jewellery containing a 16mm microfiche image that can only be accessed during an aeroplane flight. The image depicts an image of a potent text that is significant to the person.
The piece is made of found objects, silver and velvet fabric. Enclosed within the found tin are the magnifying lens, the tiny image and the electronics (Arduino Nano 3.0 board, BMP180 Barometric Pressure Sensor, an LED light, push-button and a lithium battery). The handle, made from a found spoon, acts as a slider that allows the person to move the lens up and down, while the velvet fabric covers the opening of the slider to ensure smooth motion and minimum light inside the piece. Below the slider there is a push-button; once the button is being pressed down the electronics start measuring the air pressure in the environment. The viewer, made from the edge of a found thimble, allows the person to view the film that is located at the bottom of the piece when light comes through it. As the plane reaches its maximum altitude (approximately 30.000 feet), an LED light inside the piece gradually illuminates allowing the individual to manually focus on the text by moving the slider. Following the take-off, the cabin pressure gradually drops until it stabilises again as the plane climbs to the cruising altitude. The light then stays on until the sensor detects a significant increase on air pressure, which indicates that the plane is beginning to descend (dropping its altitude for landing). Consequently, the light starts fading out, thereby allowing one to view the image one final time for this journey.
