The heart is powered by real time calls and texts (Image: PinPep)
A gigantic ‘beating heart’ has emerged in Trafalgar Square, powered by human interactions. The installation, named the Connected Heartbeat, measures nearly four by four metres and illuminates in real time as calls, texts and data connections are made on the Vodafone network in London.
The most spectacular time to witness the heart in action could be 7:01 pm, as a study of 2,000 adults identified this as the peak time for making calls and sending texts.
Throughout a day, the average adult sends approximately 28 messages to friends and family – over 10,000 annually – with Londoners being the most active phone users compared to other regions of the country.
Vodafone revealed the installation and research to commemorate its recognition as London’s Best Network by NET CHECK for the second consecutive year.
Broadcaster Roman Kemp initiated the heart’s glow as he urged pedestrians to stimulate the heart ‘beating’ with their own network connections.
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He commented: “I have lived in the capital for years now and to see my fellow Londoner’s waking up and connecting with others in real time as they go about their day and as a piece of art is really cool. I’ve never seen anything like it”.
The survey discovered that only 10% frequently make phone calls, ranking it as the fourth most popular method to communicate with friends. It trails behind WhatsApp messages (51%), SMS messages (16%) or social media updates (14%).
Despite this, nearly 13 million voice calls are still made in London on an average day. The average adult is also involved in eight different group chats, with those aged 25-34 juggling a whopping 12 different groups, according to data from Vodafone’s network.
Roman Kemp turns out Vodafone’s ‘beating heart’ (Image: PinPep)
Over two thirds believe that daily digital connection is crucial for maintaining relationships with loved ones. Furthermore, six out of 10 people believe they would have less contact with their loved ones if it wasn’t for their mobile phones.
Andrea Donà, chief network officer and network director at Vodafone UK, commented: “Seeing our network brought to life in such a striking way is fascinating and something that has never been done before.
“We power millions of connections in the city every single day, and what better way to celebrate this than by putting it in shining lights.
“We know staying connected night and day is important, whether that’s for work or being able to check-in with loved ones on-the-go.”