In the beginning, a rather schematic silhouette appears on the screen accompanied by the words: "You are not who you were." A short text explains the surprising phenomenon of the constant renewal of cells in the human body. The site shows a visualization of the extent of the physical change which has taken place since your last visit. The introduction constitutes an example of all the other projects presented at this site and serves as a foundation to the whole. In fact, Sensorium’s projects draw on the idea that the earth is an extension of the human being and that the earth is a living organism in a state of constant tranformation. Moreover, the inhabitants of this earth are directly influenced by the environment. Here, the Internet is used as a sensorial aparatus which allows the viewer to discover fundamental notions.

For example, Breathing Earth offers an image of the earthquakes which occured during the past fourteen days. Thus, the visitor can see from four different angles the planet in turmoil. In World Ear, it is possible to hear various sounds emitted on the Net. Acting as a radar, Web Hopper can register on a world map the trajectory of navigation effectuated on the Internet from on point of the globe to the other. Star Place calculates the speed in which the earth is moving in space and gives us an image of this movement. In Web Door, the designers of the site have assembled a set of links to other sites which focus on phenomena of this kind.

All these projects make one appreciate the organic side of the earth by allowing one to "sense" it and to perceive it in different ways. The sophisticated instruments of measurement required for the realization of these projects, as well as the complex technology through which the transfer of data is actualized never interfere with the visit of the site. The most recent technological developments used serve to make the site more convincing and transport us to the idea of the earth as living organism, while preserving the poetic character of the work.

Sylvie Parent