Active Denial System Error 1.0, a sound kineticon, refers to the activities of the Active Denial System (ADS) environment. A civil population protection and surveillance device, it also has can be used as a subtle weapon. ADS disables its targets with directed ultrasound rays, which “invisibly” penetrate into the nerve endings under the skin and cause a strong burning pain. When the ray changes direction, the pain immediately disappears. Nevertheless, the arms industry advertises ADS as an “ethical” weapon.

The work consists of a surveillance camera and a loudspeaker mounted on an electric motor. Through a directional sound system, the loudspeaker emits a sound image of an unknown language expressed in the form of a distorted human voice. The language is made in real time syllables that the computer programme chooses and designs randomly from the Pure Data library, prepared in advance. The device is able to rotate a full 360 degrees horizontally and the bottom can turn through 180 degrees, enabling it to detect and track moving objects in space through the use of its surveillance camera. While the camera is tracking a moving person, the sound from the speaker is transmitted in the same direction in real time and space, and can only be heard by that person. The system also contains two monitors, which show, side-by-side, the tracked objects in the surveillance area and disclose the device’s operating system and the code that runs it.

In the project, in contrast to closed and isolated protection and surveillance systems, the author has established an identification with positions of power, as such forms of violence in the name of control and punishment forecast negative changes in the evolution of perception and consequently in the autonomy of an individual’s self-awareness.