The man who can hear WiFi
If you were online in the '90s, chances are you remember the sound of a modem connecting to dial-up Internet. Nowadays, connecting to the Internet is a much quieter affair. But not for Frank Swain, who started losing his hearing in his early twenties. He has now hacked his iPhone and connected it to his hearing aid so that he can hear WiFi signals wherever he goes.
If you were online in the '90s, chances are you remember the sound of a modem connecting to dial-up Internet. Nowadays, connecting to the Internet is a much quieter affair. But not for Frank Swain, who started losing his hearing in his early twenties. He has now hacked his iPhone and connected it to his hearing aid so that he can hear WiFi signals wherever he goes. It's part of a project called Phantom Terrains, which aims to help people develop an additional sense for the invisible wireless networks that surround us. Freelance journalist Lily Ames took a walk with Frank Swain to record what he hears, and to find out why he's so intrigued by the sound of WiFi.