How the art concept for the semaphore project came about

I had been interested in augmented reality for several years and wanted to create an artwork that utilised this technology. I wanted to interweave the concepts behind the technology into the overall art concept, so as a starting point I investigated how the technology worked. I found that augmented reality is essentially a signaling device, with similarities to old fashioned signalling devices like flags. I recalled that flags had been used in England to convey messages between towns. After some research I discovered that shutter towers had been built across the country to relay messages. Shutter towers were typically built on hilltops, and each tower contained six large mechanical flags. By showing particular combinations of flags, coded messages could be relayed from one tower to the next.

Typical flag on a shutter tower

It was quite coincidental that the mechanical flags used in the historic shutter towers (image above) were virtually identical to the visual markers being used in augmented technology (image below).  Both are square, both are black and white, both have a wide black border, and both have a white centre. This is because both are designed to overcome a similar problem, clearly convey specific information from a distance. In the case of the flags information to the eye of the tower operator. In the case of augmented reality markers information to the camera picking up the signal.

   

Typical augmented reality markers

The similarity between the flags and markers led to the idea to build a semaphore installation.