What would a computer say if a computer could talk?

Marshall McLuhan’s concept of ‘media as an extension of man’ seems extremely prescient in the digital ‘information age’. The way we interact with information is constantly changing. We rely heavily on our computers; they have become our past, future and present conductors of language, thought and memory.

We enter our words into the computer via the keyboard in our own language; the computer translates our words into binary and stores them for us. The keyboard is all powerful in allowing us to interface with and control the computer environment.

What would happen if our trusted guide, our translator were to suddenly rearrange itself? How would we communicate with the all powerful, all knowing computer then? How would we get our memories back? How does this removal of control and the language of machine culture make us feel?

Information overload was an interactive installation piece exploring the idea of inverting hot and cold media and sentience in technology, in which the keys on a computer keyboard were rearranged to display a message that communicated to users.

Computer keyboards are used as ‘pages’ on which a message is displayed. The usual QWERTY arrangement of keys is rearranged and subverted. Each keyboard is to be displayed in front of a computer screen, with a mouse, as if a normal keyboard. The audience is invited to try to type with them.

Information Overload installed at

• The Loveseat “Wonderful World of Warhol“, Regent St, Redfern, 2000

Materials used

• Old computer keyboards from Reverse Garbage, keys rearranged
• Old computer monitors