transforming a Vintage Phone into a poetry Machine: Rootkid’s Innovative Project
In a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed, one creator has found a way to bridge the gap between the past and the present. Théo Zv Champion, known as Rootkid, has transformed a 1970s Socotel 63 handset into a poetry machine, breathing new life into a relic of the past. This ingenious project, dubbed Whispering Wires, combines vintage design with modern technology to deliver literary works on demand.
The Birth of an Idea
The inspiration for this project struck Rootkid in a London market, where he observed passersby instinctively picking up an abandoned phone, only to be disappointed by its silence.This sparked an idea: what if the phone could speak, delivering poetry rather of dead tones?
To bring this vision to life, rootkid chose the Socotel 63, a model renowned for its iconic 1970s design. Instead of restoring its original circuitry, he opted for a radical modernization, integrating a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W as the heart of the project. This compact yet powerful microcomputer was selected for its ability to manage audio streams efficiently.
The Technology Behind the Poetry
The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W connects via Wi-Fi to the Poetry Foundation database, an American organization offering thousands of free literary recordings. “I discovered that their API was open, which allowed me to automate the download of poems,” Rootkid explains. These audio files are stored locally to ensure seamless playback without latency.
However, a technical challenge arose: many recordings included introductions or commentary before the actual poem began. To address this, Rootkid employed two artificial intelligence tools. Whisper,a voice recognition model,transcribed the audio with precise timestamps.The results were then analyzed by GPT-4-MINI, which identified the exact start and end of each poem, automatically trimming the unneeded parts.
Preserving Authenticity with Modern Enhancements
On the hardware side, Rootkid made careful adjustments to maintain the phone’s vintage charm. The original speakers, designed for narrow vocal frequencies, were retained to preserve authenticity. To boost the audio signal, he added two 3W audio amplification modules. Additionally, a digital filter was implemented to recreate the bandwidth characteristic of old telephone networks (300-3,400 Hz), enhancing the illusion of an active line.
A Library of Endless Poetry
The result is Whispering Wires, a hybrid device that stores over 3,000 poems, offering users an endless library of literary works. “The idea is to make the connection between the eras tangible,” Rootkid explains. A video demonstration showcases delighted users discovering verses by Emily Dickinson or Langston Hughes through the vintage receiver.
A vision for the Future
For Rootkid, this project is more than just a creative experiment; it’s a testament to the potential of old objects. “The objects of the past are not relics. With a little code, they can tell new stories,” he says. Whispering Wires opens the door to countless possibilities for repurposing vintage technology, blending nostalgia with innovation.
| Key Features of whispering Wires |
|————————————–|
| Device: Socotel 63 (1970s handset) |
| Core Technology: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W |
| Audio Source: Poetry Foundation database |
| AI Tools: Whisper & GPT-4-MINI |
| Poetry library: Over 3,000 poems |
| Unique Feature: Vintage audio bandwidth recreation |
Rootkid’s project is a reminder that with creativity and ingenuity, even the most outdated objects can find new purpose. Whispering Wires not only revives a piece of history but also invites us to reimagine the potential of technology.
What’s your favorite poem? Imagine hearing it through a vintage phone—share your thoughts below!
