Identity Web

video 1.

Identity, whom we are, what we do and the rights an individual has are values that can be valued an criticised. Within our physical and virtual world, someones's identity can be ambiguous and not always as honest and trustworthy as we might think. In our physical world, we have objects as passports and identity-cards that certify our identity and give its owner legal rights from the nation those documents are granted by. For our virtual world we don not have such clear rules or documents that affirm our identity. Our virtual identity is formed by interaction with interconnected physical devices. Identity Web is a project that investigates the relation between the physical and virtual identity and vice versa. 

Identity Web is an interactive performance/installation and a graphical identity designed in collaboration with graphical designer Joeri Woudstra. Identity Web participants have to apply for a visa (figure 1.) to be granted acces to the internet.

figure 1.

Physical control in daily life can be found in traveling when crossing a nations borders. Crossing a border implies a change of legal standards and therefore the rights an individual has. In the physical space this change of rights is commonly known, this is in contrast to the virtual space where standards an values are highly ambiguous. The visa is to define the visitors identity and is done via application at a physical Identity Web border post. This document is handled by Identity Webs officials that look like and behave as real government officers they apply stamps and signatures with fountain pens. The appearance, sound, smell and seriousness that is laden with such aspects emphases the physicality (figure 2.).

The collection of personal data with the use of the application form is a physical commentary to the arisen, accepting to online terms and conditions and data harvesting culture. The 'real' identity of the applicant is not checked by Identity Web officials. The ability to lie and design your identity in the physical space with the use of the application document, I want to question the phenomena identity design in the virtual space. As bulletin three of the instructions mentions: "Incorrect statements may render identity void" with this sentence I want to emphasise the relation between the physical and virtual according to the participants identity. 

figure 2.

When the participant completed his application a visum access is granted by a Identity Web official (figure 3, 4.). The visum permits access to the Identity Web computer. The computer is located in a private space where one participant per session is allowed to access the web. 

figure 3.

A problem I encountered was how to get the participants to interact and browse the web for personal interests to get an idea about someones personality. This is solved by including a guide how to use Identity Web on the rear of the visum is as seen in figure 4.

figure 4.

During the participants browsing and completing his Identity Web session his or her activity is live broadcasted and projected in the public place. An example of the browsing activity can bee seen in video 2.

video 2.