Spotlight

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Abstract

Spotlight is an interactive book on the topic of government-imposed internet shutdowns. This data visualization project explores the effects of internet shutdowns and some of the common reasons they occur, as well as their relation to sensitive events such as protests and elections. The book is made interactive through the use of glow-in-the-dark paint in multiple interactive activities and visualizations, which requires the viewer to use a UV flashlight provided to them on the first page of the book to reveal additional information. For the purposes of this exhibition, the 10 pages of the book are individually placed on a wall in a linear fashion, each with their own UV flashlight. The viewers are able to interact with each page by going through a tunnel-shaped space created by placing a dark curtain from the ceiling in front of the wall. The book itself is placed outside, at the entrance of this tunnel, for display. The overall experience aims to replicate living through an internet shutdown by placing readers of the interactive book in a low-light environment and providing them with a flashlight in order to shine light on information and data that does not easily reach many people due to a lack of internet access.