tobias stenberg

2018

fields of power

tobias stenberg and tilde lageri damborg

The last lithium [Atomic number: 3 Atomic mass: 6,941 u ± 0,002 u] was extracted in Bolivia in 2033 along The Andes Mountains and in 2034 the last lithium was consumed in the production of lithium batteries. After 2051 the natural decay of the Li-ion batteries ability to store electricity set in. The last usable battery lost its effect in 2055. Now, in year 2063, it has been 8 years since the last usable battery lost its capacity. Storing and harvesting power has become inecreasingly difficult. As a consequence other types of batteries have become valuable commodities. Heavy, impractical manganese batteries. Rare silver-oxide batteries, which easily leak. Nickel-cadmium batteries suffering from crystalline formations reducing the effect. None of the batteries have the same capacity, size and effect. Like lithium, these resources are also finite. Electric cars are no longer a viable and sustainable alternative. This has put even more pressure on the limited fossil fuels. Some choose to make their own hand crank generators and current regulators. Some grow their own solar cells from algae. Others choose to make their own homemade batteries from more accessible materials. Saltwater batteries, lemon batteries, vinegar batteries and potato batteries. Technology has changed as well. Pacemakers, toys, hearing aids, computers and cellphones. Technology is shaped according to the more or less efficient batteries of different sizes and capacities. Recall the times of high resolution and endless streaming. To be part of the network at all times. Now we are forced to signals in intervals and potato quality networks.

Exhibited at speculative and critical design exhibition at Internet Week Denmark in 2018