Hello and welcome to a walking tour of the internet, Princeton. We recommend that you budget 1-2 hours for this walk. Feel free to skip stops if needed and/or adapt our route based on your needs.
Display images as
Computer Science Department Servers
A dark room illuminated by the blinking of small lights connected to
massive computer structures.
"How little we know about the internet's physical side is pretty
crazy. We're online consistently, and we don't realize all that's
happening in the background that makes it all possible." - Avi
Reveries, 2017
These paintings (blue, red, and yellow) depict the female "hosts"
(robots) of the television series Westworld in moments when they
realize their sentience or lack thereof. By Crystal Qian.
To be honest, I never really think too much about how the Internet
works, which looking back makes me upset that I didn't have that
curiosity--how could I not want to know? I guess because it's been
around since before I was born, I take it so much for granted that I
just never really wonder about it. It's like wondering why birds
have feathers, or something like that. I never really think of the
Internet as a physical thing. It's all just those dotted lines
connecting circles and clouds to me. I had no clue we were walking
on top of text messages and video calls and transactions and the
like. It's right beneath us! - Marie
Traffic Control Box
A box to hide/protect all the cables and hardware controlling the
pedestrian walk signals.
I am much more aware of the network infrastructure around me. It is
easy to simply walk past manhole covers and street markings without
caring as we go about our day-to-day. I would argue that most people
do this. This book, however, inspires us to ask questions and be
curious about the things that seem mundane at times as they can be
really interesting. - Ian
Communications Panel Cover
Panel covering communications cables
Is the internet being hidden, or protected? What do you think? Or is
it just hiding in plain sight?
Phone Booth
An emergency phone system. Looks older than most of the blue lights
inside campus.
Bell System
A manhole cover for the Bell System. According to Wiki these are
telephone service systems and were founded in the 1870s. Now they
are used by AT&T.
" 'The stones I design will also change. Not in my lifetime, and not
in the family's, but over the next hundreds of years, the stones
will take new shapes.' This quote really stuck out to me. It made me
wonder what relationships people had with specific objects that I
see a hundred years ago." - Emmie
"Telephone of the Wind"
A public art piece in the garden of the MacLean House, which is a
rotary telephone displayed in a wooden case. Above it is a plaque
which states this piece was created from grief and is meant to allow
people to connect with their lost loved ones.
phone directory
Electric Manhole Cover
Rusted manhole cover that reads. "Princeton University Electric"
Public Table
A concrete sculpture that's an upside-down cone, so its surface is a
perfect circle that people can sit on or be around.
“Although varied in their content, the underlying theme across all
of these pieces is the relationship between creation and connection.
Whether it is physical art, a creative project, or something
technological, humans show their love for and communicate with each
other through the things that they create.” -Oyinkansola
Electrical Panel Cover
A more elevated electrical panel outside of Murray Dodge
Entrance to Murray-Dodge Cafe
A blue sign has a simple line drawing of a teapot along with the
text: "dedicated to the fine art of being open: Murray-Dodge Café:
Free Coffee, Tea, and Cookies. A Program of the Office of Religious
Life."
if (self.hungry() == true) { eat.cookies(); }
else { return chill; }
Frist Campus Center
Popular place to meet up with people. Also where many student groups
advertise performances and where students pick up mail.
“And community, which is vital to all humans, evolves with people,
and it is something that is found in different ways in the past, the
present, and the future.” -Oyinkansola
Accessibility Center Doors
The doors within the Accessibility Center. Written on the first
door, in marker, is "Share your ideas for managing stress this
semester," and below it people have responded with words and emoji
magnets. Written on the second door is "How are you feeling today?"
and below it people have responded with words and emoji magnets.
OIT
Princeton's Office of Information Technology
The Internet deep deep down is a bunch of cables, and this article
was a great reminder of what infrastructure is actually needed to
keep the Internet going. The Internet also seems so disconnected
from the physical world, but it can suffer from its environment if
not taken care of properly. For instance, if these cables were not
underground, they could be impacted by weather and the like, which
would greatly affect the way we live life. -Anya
Public Safety Emergency Tower
Tall, black communication tower with a blue light on top.
CCTV
The CCTV camera on top of 1915 Hall may go unnoticed by the casual
observer.
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Orange & Green Utility Markings
Two utility markings placed right across from each other in front of
a construction area. Orange: Telecommunications. Green: Sewer and
drain.
"I thought the discussion about whether it is possible to see the
internet was very interesting because I hadn’t really thought of the
internet as a visible physical object. I think one of the
fascinating things to read about was the meanings behind the various
symbols/markings that are spray painted on the streets. When I walk
around the city, I see the spray painted symbols everywhere, yet I
had never learned about what they mean so it was interesting to read
about it. I had not realized that the colors of the spray paint also
held meaning." - Iroha
Electrical Box on Dorms
Electrical box attached to the outside of Yoseloff Hall, placed
right on the outside of dorm windows.
Electrical Panel Cover
Electrical panel in Scully Hall Courtyard
Overlapping Descending Stairs
Set of curved descending stairs adjacent to each other, from floor 2
to basement.
"The beginning of Networks of New York where Burrington speaks about
the veil which seems to cover the technicalities of the internet
reminded me of how when I was younger I thought that my classmates
who could code, and were working on things like bread boards or
raspberry pi (in middle school) were geniuses. In middle school, I
was watching Youtube and playing Mall World on Facebook...So
compared to what I was exposed to/knew about, my classmates seemed
to be do doing things that were worlds away. But, as I learned these
seemingly impossibly complex things myself, I'd come to realize that
it's not so exclusive/reserved for the gifted. I think how I felt
about my classmates projects is how many people might think of the
internet. There's a thin layer of surface knowledge, and some sort
of self-doubt that makes people hesitate to want to know more. I
like the introduction of the internet as something physical (massive
networks of optic cables) because I think it helps bridge the gap
that exists for so many people in their understanding of the
internet. It seems like tangibles are easier to understand than the
theoretical and/or detached." - Britney
Washington Road from Streicker Bridge
Washington Road Cuts right through Princeton's Campus. This shot
gives a great view of the separation.
"I've mostly just considered it as a space online, like a
remote/imaginary internet land. I've never given any substantial
thought to the physicality of the internet, and it still weirds me
out to think about those long undersea internet cables actually
existing in the ocean... I really liked the underground portion of
the book, especially the little drawings that would go with it.
Almost like learning a new language/symbols--it was especially fun
to look at some of the signs on the field trip too. It was so
interesting that all the markings on the streets that I previously
would've simply walk pass were a set of symbols and in some ways
internet language." - Irene
Symmetric Fork
A symmetric fork on Streicker Bridge to two generally similar but
not identical paths.
Princeton Neuroscience Institute
A view of the Princeton's neuroscience building. The lines of the
reflective windows bending inwards give the energy of connectivity.
"To that, I say experimentation is more important than theory (or
definition) creation in daily human life. To be sure, it is vital to
have rough working definitions of “service” to provide us with rough
templates of our objectives and what questions to ask. However, the
application of definitions to experimenting on the canvas of the
human condition is what truly gives “service” its meaning." - Minh
The Princeton Line + communication
The Princeton Line by Maya Lin, and a communications handhole. The
Princeton Line is in reference to the old Dinky train line
"I, probably like most people, was completely unaware of how many of
these markings were even related to the internet. I thought, for
example, mancovers were only to access sewer or drainage tunnels.
With that being said, I have noticed various markings mentioned in
the text when walking around campus. I always knew internet was
physical (to a degree), but after reading the text, it is much more
physical than I realized. Now, however, the internet seems more
fragile; it seems much more likely that there can be physical
failures from human causes although I realize one line being
disrupted does not destroy the whole system." - David
Reflecting Pool at Lewis Center
A magenta parallelogram is actually a window (portal) to the below
lobby of the Lewis Center. On top of it is water, a reflecting pool
"I think a person can be their “best self” on the internet if she
utilizes it to gain useful knowledge about topics that she is
passionate about. I think the openness of the web comes with many
implications. Because anyone can build a website or write a blog,
misinformation is rampant. At the same time, the web is a place
where various people can connect with one another. I think people
should make an effort to decrease misinformation and increase
genuine connections on the web." - Alice
Princeton Dinky
The Princeton Dinky at rest before departing soon. A great way to
get to New York!
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