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What if you could actually see Wi-Fi? It is something we all have wondered about. We can see the Wi-Fi routers in our homes and our offices, and we also know that somewhere around us are dozens of networks (just click on the Wi-Fi networks icon on your iPad or laptop) — but it is still hard to see how Wi-Fi, a technology so core to our modern connected experience, really works.

A few days ago, I came across an article by Nickolay Lamm (writing for MyDeals), who, working with M. Browning Vogel, Ph.D, took the data about Wi-Fi coverage areas on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and superimposed it on actual images. The result is five gorgeous visualizations that show us how Wi-Fi networks propagate and work in the real world. Take a look: (All photos appear courtesy of Lamm/Mydeals)