These days, however, we are acutely aware of the fragility of this manuever - as we nervously check altitude and airspeed from our seats (on the inflight data system) and look out of our windows, for the potential terrestial targets of an imagined hijacker. The distant Earth, once the backdrop for mild skydiving fantasies, is often the subject of full blown paranoia, a too-close “desert of the real.” This project was designed to enter into this psychic space of the modern traveller.

Dredge is an interactive program on the inflight entertainment network. The interface is a virtual (composited from 5 m. satellite photos) map that corresponds to a view from a camera pointing downward to earth. Overlaid on this map are links – to geo-located historical, anthropological, political and economic data, as well as live streams of local media, and potential geo-located chat connections, etc... you get the picture.

At one time, you can only access a 50-mile diameter of earth, centred on the plane’s location. (At average speed, the screen scrolls to a new view every 6 minutes) This strategy creates a narrow slice of experience, a personal journey generated by the flight vector. The links you access become part of a linear “history”, which can be revisited in low density areas, or saved onto CDrom.

I undertook a preliminary study on data filters applicable to this project, and made a concept document based on a flight from Seoul (RKSL) to Paris(LFPG) via Bangkok(VTBD). In November 2002, Dredge won the Grand Prize for product design in the 2002 Samsung Art and Design Institute's Design Competition, Connecting Cultures.

(see www.sadicontest.com > gallery > 2002 winnners)

I am currently working on a demo using a Los Angeles – New York flightpath.