Aaron Koblin

Year
2007

Medium / Material / Technic
Dynamic visualization, color, 30 sec.

»Amsterdam SMS« is a dynamic visualization of the volume of text messages transmitted during the run-up to and on New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam in each subsection of the city as defined by mobile communication infrastructure. The work provides a glimpse into our communication patterns around a significant event. It also indicates a certain population distribution and movement among people.

This interactive visualization tool for SMS messages was developed as part of a research project for the MIT Senseable City Lab and the Centre of Competence for Geoinformatics at Salzburg University. The visualization was built with the programming language Processing and OpenGL. Data was provided by KPN Mobile. Created in 2007, the work is an early study of a digitally integrated and connected city.

Aaron Koblin is a digital media artist known for his innovative use of data visualization, virtual reality, and interactive film. In 2014, he was awarded the US National Design Award for Interactive Design.