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| TITLE: | GL:QU |
| DATE: | June 2008 |
| MATERIALS: | Money, too much time |
This mini project was specially done for Portugese e-zine vector issue #06 - Errors and Glitches, as part of a severe e-grilling by series editor Miguel Leal.
Apparatus
A flatbed scannerAn ordinary personal computer
One used British ten pound note
Miscellaneous digital glitches photocopied onto acetate
Photo editing software
Method
Attempts to scan a regular banknote failed; only a partial preview scan was possible before aborting, probably due to watermarks being recognised by the scanner driver software.
To test this hypothesis, a variety of visual glitches photocopied onto clear acetate sheets were inserted between the scanner glass and the banknote, and the scans re-attempted.
Not all attempts were successful. However, with sufficient density of glitch material, several scans were completed and saved for future reference. (viz. supporting images.)
Conclusion
Initial attempts to scan the banknote failed. By introducing the visual glitches, these acted like a catalyst, albeit an imperfect one; the scans were completed, although distorted by the glitches themselves.
We conclude therefore that the visual glitch can, in the right circumstances, act as an imperfect catalytic subversive agent against state-sponsored remote surveillance technology.
Currency is a lot like digital data. It is quantised, it flows, it can be processed, and it can contain errors.