Safety is one of the main concerns of urban sex workers. The Aphrodite platform shoes will have an alarm system, which emits a piercing noise to scare off attackers. The shoes are also outfitted with a GPS receiver and an emergency button that relays both the prostitute’s location and a silent alarm signal to public emergency services. Where there are problematic relations with law enforcement, the shoes will relay the signal to sex workers’ rights groups.
The shoes will transmit their location via APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) developed in the late 1970s. APRS uses amateur radio to transmit position reports, weather reports, and messages between users.
A prototype of the sandals will be on view in Eyebeam’s gallery May 2-13. The model will come with integrated LCD screen, speakers, internet connection and GPS tracking system. On May 13 visitors will be able to track the wearer in real-time as she traverses the city and join in a panel discussion between artists, technologists and sex work advocates. This event will conclude with a reading by Tracy Quan, performance by Ana Voog, Echo Transgression, and Melissa Gira, and live music by Natural Sphere.
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