One common problem near the barge is speedboats crashing on the reef just outside the Metropolis building. This has been an ongoing piece of amusement and frustration as we have seen one boat after the other ignore warning signs and crash on to rocks, only to be stuck and cry for help to be rescued in the shallow water.

We wondered how we could prevent it from happening or convey the message of our frustration. During the mobile workshop we came up with the concept of working with the myth of the Siren, to illustrate the problem of how the Boats would be lured onto the rocks.

“Sirens (Greek singular: Σειρήν Seirēn; Greek plural: Σειρῆνες Seirēnes) were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.” (Wikipedia)

Here the skeleton of one of the Sirens was made with two wings. The winds would unfold and the Siren would sing as she detected any approaching objects.

This project was a part of a larger exploration with Xperia Studio. We want to convey the message to the world that technology should be designed to be remixed, hacked and customized by its users. The process was filmed, and will published as part of a larger promotion about the phones.

Credits: Vanessa Carpenter, Maria Paz and Nikolaj Møbius.