DIGITAL FINGERPRINT

From selfies to cookies, the data we leave behind online is one of the fastest growing global commodities. However communicating the issues around this topic is hard as the subject matter is largely invisible. I wanted to explore ways to draw attention to the topic of digital fingerprints by making the algorithms and code more visual. 

 
Fingerprints lifted from phone screen using aluminium powder and tape

Fingerprints lifted from phone screen using aluminium powder and tape

I dusted my phone screen for fingerprints with aluminium powder throughout a day. This way I could visually map my online behaviour. I needed to invert the dusting to reveal the prints. 

 
thermal-gif-2-1.gif
 

I used thermochromic screen-printing ink which responds to the temperature of touch, to capture the thermal patterns of online behaviour.