Loca is an exercise in grass-roots, pervasive surveillance.

A person walking through the city centre hears a beep on their phone and glances at the screen. Instead of an SMS alert they see a message reading:
“We are currently experiencing difficulties monitoring your position: please stand absolutely still for one minute.”

Deploying a cluster of interconnected, self-sufficient Bluetooth nodes within inner city urban environments, Loca observes people’s movements by tracking the position of the Bluetooth enabled devices that they carry everyday. Inferences based on analysis of the data guides communication with the Bluetooth users, via ‘Bluejacking’ (unsolicited messages sent to Bluetooth devices), and through interaction with performers.

Loca aims to lightly touch large numbers of people. The aim is not complex interaction, but subtle affect. It will be like a picture glanced at sideways, a message caught in the corner of the eye, or a mosquito swatted on the arm. Like a mosquito it will not always be welcome, but can be expected to infuriate, annoy and provoke.

Projects and debates surrounding surveillance have yet to properly address Locative Media. Likewise Locative Media has yet to fully address its own critical context.

Pervasive and peer-to-peer surveillance has the potential to be both sinister and positive, at the same time. Loca asks how do people respond to being tracked and observed? How ready are people to observe others? Who is the user, and how?