DIVINA

DIVINA wireless network dowse tool

Wireless networks ( particularly, those with a free access) are modern “gateways” , where devices such as laptops and smart-phones enable us to retrieve an immense amount of information at ad incredible speed, making the space around us an astonishing new dimension.

Despite the enormous importance these networks have, there are two cardinal issues in accessing them:
?'? their invisibility
?'? their strategic location

The Divina Project does just this, it detects wifi spots thanks to built-in hi-range sensors. Its second feauture allows it to expand the network by amplifying the signal. This turns useful when a large amount of these devices are doing it in a crowded area.

In projecting a digital device where the interaction with the user becomes essential, paying attention the the product affordance is crucial. for this reason it is important to find in the collective imaginary a figure which is able to create a strong metaphor of this quest for wireless networks.
In the ancient times, when water was a less affordable good than today, men have been putting their trust in a very peculiar figure, that of the dowser: he would search for water with a wand, to which paranormal powers were given. The dowser can be a perfect example to represent the contemporary man looking for the spring of information.
In this particular case then, the dowser wand becomes a metaphor and an inspiration in the planning of the device.
Divina has LEDs on its body, so that when it’s turned on it automatically start searching for a wireless hotspot. When pointed in the right direction LEDs will turn on, accordingly to the distance from the source. When the devices reaches the place (letting the user navigate with his laptop/smartphone) it turns into an antenna pushing further the signal. Read Less