Profiled by Rhizome Artists, Adam Harvey, faculty of “The Fundamentals of Physical Computing,” lets us in on Off Pockets, a product that prevents data leakage from one’s smartphone. From an Artist Profile over at Rhizome, he explains:
Smartphones infiltrate our senses. They cause anxiety, phantom vibrations, and keep us on alert. We expend energy maintaining an always-on connection. Smartphones should come with a switch to turn this off, but they don’t. Turning my iPhone off and back on takes 45 seconds. Using flight mode is also clumsy. I wanted a way to quickly and politely disconnect myself without relying on the phone’s software or hardware features. The Off Pocket circumvents this design flaw.
By placing one’s phone in Off Pocket, it will improve personal privacy in the mind of its user at a time when surveillance has become of growing concern and interest.
Adam has donated Off Pockets as part of Rhizome’s Community Fundraising Campaign. You can contribute to receive one.