Anti-Wifi Paint

Researchers say they have created a special kind of paint which can block out wireless signals.It means security-conscious wireless users could block their neighbours from being able to access their home network – without having to set up encryption.The paint contains an aluminium-iron oxide which resonates at the same frequency as wi-fi – or other radio waves – meaning the airborne data is absorbed and blocked.

BBC link

Elderly couple mistaken for being marijuana growers.

An elderly couple who bought a pink-flowering perennial to brighten up their garden found their home and street targeted by the police and a gang of armed drug users after the innocent-looking plant began to give off a scent similar to cannabis. Link

Police now have mobile fingerprint scanners

From The Guardian Online

Every police force in the UK is to be equipped with mobile fingerprint scanners – handheld devices that allow police to carry out identity checks on people in the street.The new technology, which ultimately may be able to receive pictures of suspects, is likely to be in widespread use within 18 months. Tens of thousands of sets – as compact as BlackBerry smartphones – are expected to be distributed.

Workshop 6: Futures: May 8th-9th

WALTER PICHLER. Small Room (Prototype 4), 1967 Photography: Werner Kaligofsky.
Generali Foundation, Vienna. © Generali Foundation

WALTER PICHLER TV-Helmet (Portable living room), 1967

This workshop explored ways in which the contemporary obsession with insecurity is generating new forms of technical promise, offering control and protection in the wars against terror and environmental apocalypse. Discussions ranged from Double Agents in the post cold war era, how design thinking is integral to understanding, envisioning and provoking thoughts about the future, how risk assessment and scenario planning creates its own future and how the war on climate change has been created from the same language and motivations as the war on terror.

Keeping a watchful eye and a keen ear on your feathered friends

Defendus labyrinth door chain

The defendus labyrinth door chain is by the Art Lebedev studio in Moscow. Crazy projects, a real assertive design attitude.

Product features:

• Chain style Doorlock forces you to solve a maze to exit
• 100% Titanium Alloy Construction
• 8″ chain
• 10 mounting screws included (2 extra)
• Tested to 700lbs of force.

Failure

The Fail blog is a site for sharing all things that FAIL with the world:

via failblog

Pink ladies:Private cabby service for women only passengers

via PinkLadies and BBC

Workshop 5: Ear defenders:designing film sound for safe living by Annette Davison

Dr Annette Davison, Music, University of Edinburgh: BSc (City) MA (Exeter) PhD (Sheffield)

Annette’s talk discussed the subjects of eavesdropping, sound and it’s context in safe living. Film sound + music are little discussed as they are unseen. But they work hard to generate how we are able to believe what we see on the screen. Alfred Hitchcock for example did not want orchestra for his film “Lifeboat”(1944), because there is no orchestra in the sea. In 70s, sensitive rifle mikes sanitized audio surveillance as seen in the films The Conversation and Blowup.

What are the current issues of sound + audio surveillance in UK?
1) MPs and eavesdropping: people bugged at prison by police, it was not for a warrant for arrest. MPs and prison conversations had been taped
2) Wire tap intercepts in court. As evidence are admissible in court.
3) ”CCTV must not record conversations” Record the crowds of 2012 Olympics. Not between members of the public, intrusive and unjustified. It must be made clear that audio recording is taking place. Sound is public and private.

Public Services Propaganda Posters

Are you a considerate passenger?!! Watch the film here on the TFl website?>

Guns for girls

via buzzfeed and The Times

YOUPrison:the notion of space used as a tool of punishment

YOUprison: Some thoughts on the limitation of space and freedom

An exhibition curated by Francesco Bonami as part of the World Congress of Architecture in Turin from June to Spetember.

Twelve reflections on the limitation of space and freedom. Twelve cells on a real scale constructed by as many architectural offices at the Sandretto Foundation in Turin. To give visitors a first-hand experience of the burning issues surrounding one of the most difficult and intriguing spaces. With over 8 million incarcerated individuals, the prison population is one of the fastest growing communities in the world. The United States, a country with only 5 per cent of the world’s population, holds 25 per cent of the world’s prison population. America’s 2 million people behind bars represent the highest per capita incarceration rate in the history of the world, making prisons the fastest growing category of housing in the country.

via Domus and UIATorino2008

Workshop 5: Borderline Security Theatre by Andrew Clement

Andrew Clement (Professor of Information Studies, University 0f Toronto)
Borderline Security Theatre: Performing asymmetric risk with no-fly lists and biometric identification.

>Download Andre’s presentation: andrew-clement.ppt

Andrew is Computer Scientist originally, reformed one and now more interested in relationship between computer system, digital infrastructure, social organisation and issues that are implicated by these systems. Focusing on privacy, surveillance, the dark side of these infrastructures and positive ones.

How to address recurring atrocious uses of complex assemblage of digital uses. How can we imagine them being designed differently? Technology that is used within borders: tech development and political strategic rhetorical developments. Roberts talk of borders and Mexican borders. Andrew is from Canada, and will discuss border with US. + Canada. Not talking about physical fences but institutional and technological fences built over the past few years.

Summary: How the border is created in different places and moments.Ways in which formal governemnt processes are used and subverted in creating new borders.Biological and physical bodies. Imperative to tie your biomedical data to the records of you crossing the borders: biometric UK leading example of problematic issues surrounding ID cards.

How much is your dead body worth?

Horizon – How much is your dead body worth

BBC2 Tuesday 18th March (today)

“A modern medical revolution has fuelled a market for body parts which has seen a cadaver sell for as much as $250,000. Horizon investigates the booming industry that supplies human bodies. It has spawned a grisly black market trade in stolen body parts which includes among its victims the veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke. After his death in 2004 what happened to his body as it lay in a funeral home would reveal a story of modern day grave robbery and helped smash a body-snatching ring that had made millions of dollars by chopping up and selling-off over 1000 bodies. Dead bodies have become big business.

Invisible People

Invisible People offers a range of short radio interviews with those who work at the HQs of various megasystems we rely upon in our society, from Telecare social services to Group4Securicor, the National grid and the London Bus Centrecomm, the emergency command and control centre for the London Bus company. Joe Kerr, RCA lecturer and head of the Critical and Historical studies programme, presents meets and observes these invisible people in 5 of these little documentaries via BBCradio 4.

The TSA Gangstas

For a little light entertainment and mockery check out this little skit about the TSA (the Transportation Security Administration aka airport baggage security in the US) via Bruce Schneier, the security tzar!

Bruce Schneier the Security Expert

Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist and author. Described by The Economist as a “security guru,” Schneier is best known as a refreshingly candid and lucid security critic and commentator. When people want to know how security really works, they turn to Schneier. Recent posts from his blog include these security toys! Thank you James King.

The Playmobil Security Check Point

Scan-It Operation Checkpoint Toy XRay

Workshop 4: Protocols, Procedures & Institutions

Read more about the Protocols, Procedures and Institutions workshop here>

The Tower Hamlets Unregulated Zone

A CONFIDENTIAL MEMO discussing the IF-POLITICS membership and duties of the Lancaster University Expert Assessors of Tower Hamlets Unregulated Zone from the UK Government Regulation Office, Division 3496723. Source: ANON

Safe Weaponery

Martin Postler, a recent graduate from the MA Design Products course at the RCA, London designed the AK47 Paper Gun Model Kit. Martin has freed the AK-47 from its terrible capacity to injure and kill by reconstructing it into a paper model construction set. Martin works alongside Ian Ferguson. Check out there company profile: postlerferguson

Safe Drinking

Inflatable pubs and bars are now available to buy or hire. No sharp edges and soft walls ensure alcohol induced fighting will no injuries. The pub will deflate if pierced with sharp glass objects, thus creating an enveloping membrane over the troublemakers.

Inflatable churches and other temporary emergency housing are also available>