Introducing Powerchord (Blackbird edition)

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Introducing Powerchord (Blackbird edition).
Dan Lockton, Architectures, April 25, 2014
The powerchord is a simple device that represents energy use in a household as background noises - birdsongs, rain falling, etc. In this post, the author describes associating the noises with specific appliances: "The ‘Sound of the Office’ represented twelve hours’ electricity use by three items of office infrastructure – the kettle, a laser printer, and a gang socket for a row of desks – turned into a 30-second MIDI file." I love this idea. "It’s an exploration of what’s possible, or might be useful, in helping people develop a different kind of understanding of energy use, and the patterns of energy use in daily life – not just based on on numerical feedback. If it’s design for behaviour change, it’s aiming to do so through increasing our understanding of, and familiarity with, the systems around us, making energy use something we can develop an instinctual feeling for." More...