In 2003 an american research team managed to write, fix and read a songs lyrics in the genome of simple bateria 1,2. The bacterium »Deinococcus radiodurans« is one of the simplest and oldest organisms on earth.
The organisms rather simple genetic-code was augmented by a strain of artificial-code, wich held information in form of a childrens song. This modified genome was synthesized, processed and injected into a cell nucleus. The data can now be retrieved without beeing damaged.

What if this technology experiences the same process of miniaturization as computers have,in the past 50 years? How are we going to treat these organisms in machines? Are they organisms? Are they machines?

»Wetware« is a set of fictional prototypes, that illustrate three different interactions with the oranism.

Today the process takes time and substantial laboratory equipment, but that was the case with computers in the 1960s as well. Apart from the machinery for synthesizing and injecting the DNA into the nucleus, water and sugar is needed for breeding and for keeping the organism alive. In this modified bacterial culture, thousands of copies of data exist and reproduce.

The first scenario is based on our current interaction with technology. A black box, a device of wich we do not know or see the inside, can be equipped with cartridges of water and sugar. We do not see the organism, we only buy cartridges, like we do with printers today.

The second scenario suggests a more direct interaction with the organism. The bacterial culture is visible through a hole in the middle of the device. The user has to take care of the organism himself by supplying water and sugar in minute doses.

The third scenario is based on the assumption that the bacterial culture is not constrained to a device, but has entered the users body. For accessing the stored data, the user has to take a smear-test from his oral mucosa.

The project does not aim to give concrete design proposals. It is rather made to impart the technology and to evoke a discussion.

free project (2010)