‘Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space. USB flash drives are embedded into walls, buildings and curbs accessible to anybody in public space. Everyone is invited to drop or find files on a dead drop. Plug your laptop to a wall, house or pole to share your favorite files and data. Each dead drop is installed empty except a readme.txt file explaining the project. ‘Dead Drops’ is open to participation. If you want to install a dead drop in your city/neighborhood follow the ‘how to’ instructions and submit the location and pictures.
I am a Berlin based media artist and started the ‘Dead Drops’ project during my stay in NYC at EYEBEAM as artist in residence, October 2010. Dead Drops was part of the show “Talk to Me” at the MoMA July-Nov 2011.
Aram Bartholl 2010
Dead Drops ‘How to’ video
The first 5 Dead Drops were installed by Aram Bartholl in NYC, Oct. 2010.
Prefer Youtube? Get the video here youtube.com/watch?v=hwohadcUv4A
- Definition of the term Dead drop (Wikipedia)
- Initial Dead Drops preview release post (with 300++ hilarious comments!)
- 1st 5 Dead Drops NYC flickr set
Better browsing on full size window here!
296 Comments
Not a very well thought out idea. USB flash drives are far too fragile. Basically vandalism (chipping away at walls?), and a waste of a flash drive. The video shows the absolutely absurd usage of putting a notebook directly into the usb flash drive… All it would take is for one person to release the weight of that notebook, or move it incorrectly, and the usb drive plug is bent or snapped off permanently and forever useless. I’d think that he would at LEAST advise using a usb extension cable…
I’m looking forward to seeing these connected to an 120 Volt power grid, to fry any moron who is stupid enough to plug this into their notebooks…
Combine this with geocaching please??
It is combinated!
Klick on one spot at the map and then klick on the link that appears. You´ll find the coordinates!
Conceptually it’s an interesting idea.
But! What if someone walks into one of these lumps of sharp metal protruding from a wall? I hope you can sleep knowing you’ve left a potential H&S [Health and Safety] nightmare in a public place.
Hey all !!! I am closing the comments. Thx for all your thoughts, ideas and concerns (yes, there even could be viruses on there! OMG this is soo dangerous! Luckyly the Internet is a save place ;-)
Please keep discussing, brainstorming and add your ideas in the Forum
ARAM
Hahahahaha!
Luckyly is it a SAVE place!!!
Tix
Süper..
Harekete devam!