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| They call it a "Tri-Field Meter," but we prefer "Tricorder," thank you. |
He bought it partly because it does "measure" FM radio signal. However, it does so with no reliable increments so really it just indicates the presence of radio signal. Anyway, MOSTLY he got it because of its peculiar cult following. Check it out. This is what they say before you buy it:
If the TFM3C looks familiar, it's probably because you saw it in use on the CBS show Ghost Whisperer! It was used throughout one episode (#78, 02-27-2009) to detect the presence of ghosts! The concept is simple, it is believed (by the believers!) that ghosts give off an electric field that can be detected with the appropriate equipment. Even Thomas Edison believed this as he made recordings of "voices from beyond". In the electric mode, the TFM3C's displays will wander away from zero even though there isn't a clear reason for it (not scientifically explainable, aka paranormal!). This would mean something has begun to give off an electric field. What it was in the Ghost Whisperer was a friendly ghost. What it will be in your house... who knows!
It is with some reservation that the author suggests that you use the TFM3 to
look for disembodied spirits. Devices similar to this are sold expressly for this
purpose. The idea is that the Haints give off an electric field and can be
detected with the appropriate equipment. Thomas Edison believed in
something along these lines and even made recordings of “voices from
beyond”. As mentioned earlier, in the electric mode, the TFM3’s displays will
often keep wandering away from zero even though there isn’t any clear
reason for them to do so. At this point an explanation is needed as to what
causes this. The one put forward earlier in this manual is that there are indeed
charged objects nearby that the TFM3 is responding to, even though you may
not be aware that they are charged (someone put their hairbrush under the
table that you are standing near). However, SOME people might tend towards
a less scientific approach and suggest that in fact Casper has paid you a visit
and this is the reason for your strange readings. You can probably guess the
author’s opinion, but in the end, it’s up to you.
I appreciated & had a laugh at this when we assembled the kit. The Tricorder solved nothing (actually it proved that my FM transmitter is terribly weak) but I borrowed it anyway and let it sit in the corner of my studio a while. In order to make some kind of progress, I started thinking about the other end of the project—what will I sew onto? What will the wearer wear? I hadn't given this much thought yet.
My grandmother passed away a couple of months ago and I had been sent a box of her clothing to try on. That was also in a corner somewhere. I looked through it—there are some pretty funky jackets in that box! 6 different colors, flowers, lace trim, etc. I started thinking about Grace Kim and Lynne Bruning, both of whom had guest lectured in our class, and the aesthetics of their work. Particularly, some of Grace's work is on very thick and ornate pieced of fabric. Wearable electronics do not need to look like Tron, or David Bowie's future.
Reliable proximity feedback from FM frequency, realistically, is looking to be a more and more distant prospect for me. Graduation, however, is still imminent. My professor: "Do not try and break any new territory from this point on." Sound advice, but what can I do with what I am already somewhat familiar with? If not proximity, what do I care about detecting/reflecting with a wearable?
Enter: The Grandma Jacket.
I will use the Tri-Field meter as it is "intended!" I will wear my grandma's jacket, enhanced with some RGB LEDs, and if she is hanging around maybe I'll know it by way of a color change. Of course it's tongue-in-cheek, but there's a serious side as well. I will indeed be making an object that senses it's surroundings in a way that we humans cannot, and translating those readings for humans in the form of light & color.
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