Global online traffic visualized by best-selling author of ‘Generation X’ and founding member of iconic band OMD, harnessing Alcatel-Lucent wireless network technology
Paris, June 7, 2012 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has joined forces with best-selling author Douglas Coupland and Paul Humphreys, a founder member of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the UK electronic music pioneers, to produce an artistic portrayal of 24-hours in global Internet traffic.
The partnership, timed to coincide with Alcatel-Lucent’s annual review, represents one of the first attempts at translating data into art. The work, entitled Electric Ikebana, uses network tracking systems to compile a series of images, reflecting peaks and troughs of Internet demand over a 24-hour period, in this case: Earth Day, 22 April 2012.
“The new dividing line of the human race is between those who believe that the Internet is the real world and those who still don’t acknowledge it is the real world,” says Douglas Coupland. “We live in the golden age of data visualization; I hope this project pushes us deeper into the beauty of data and the ways in which it can be made to come alive.”
Data imagery is combined with music composed by Humphreys, available to online users through an interactive application that changes with each playing. The project, which makes its debut today at annualreview2011.alcatel-lucent.com, celebrates new technologies by converting digital “traffic” into a new artistic medium.
Electric Ikebanais a collaboration between Douglas Coupland, Paul Humphreys, Alcatel-Lucent, digitally realized by Helios Design Labs. Music supervision is by David Hayman, produced by Chris Nanos from Radke Films and telecommunications data provided by the Alcatel-Lucent 9900 Wireless Network Guardian.
Screen images of the Electric Ikebana project can be found at 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alcatel-lucent
ABOUT DOUGLAS COUPLAND
Douglas Coupland was born on a NATO base in Germany in 1961. He is the author of Generation X followed by 12 other novels. His books have been translated into 35 languages and published in most countries around the world. He is also a visual artist, sculptor, furniture designer and screenwriter. He lives and works in Vancouver. For further information visit: www.coupland.com
ABOUT PAUL HUMPHREYS
Paul Humphreys is a British musician best known as a member of the synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (often abbreviated to OMD), which he co-founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978. OMD enjoyed considerable success worldwide releasing 11 studio albums and 23 singles, and 2010 saw the release of Humphrey’s first album with OMD for over 20 years, titled History of Modern. For further information visit: www.omd.uk.com
ABOUT HELIOS DESIGN LABS
Helios Design Labs is a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1990 by Alex and Felix Wittholz, Helios works across a wide range of media for a diverse list of clients. For further information visit: www.heliozilla.com
About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world’s foremost research centers, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2012 Top 50 list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” for breakthroughs such as lightRadio™, which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks while delivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission – Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.
With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billion in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
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