Archive for April, 2006
A three-dimensional tactile physical map that emerges out of a table. 4600 pins powered by a single motor push up touch-sensitive silicone screen to simulate the height topography, while vacuum sucks down the rest of the ‘unpinned’ skin. an overhead projector displays a geographical map on skin. in addition, the touch-sensitive skin allows gesture input for panning, zooming, & locating.
This product is being tested and developed as the TerrainTable by Northrop Grumman
via infosthetics
April 22nd, 2006
Michael Fox spoke at the Game Set Match Conference a fortnight ago about his approach to teaching Interactive Architecture which he's developed through his time teaching at MIT's Kinetic Design Group, SCI-Arc, Hong Polytechnic University, the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and currently at Cal Poly Pomona where he is assistant Professor of Architecture. His practice Foxlin and his teaching-research called Robotecture explore human and environmental interaction and behaviors, embedded computational infrastructures, kinetic and mechanical systems and physical control mechanisms.
His students examine interactive architecture as spaces and objects that can reconfigure themselves to meet changing needs with a specific interest in physical and tangible change. For me this makes an ambitious and exciting approach to the way interactive architecture can be explored and reflects my own personal research and practice in tangible interaction.
In the past year I've posted what I consider interactive architecture to encompass and as you may have noticed, this reflects a broad and multidisciplinary combination of digital and analogue, physical actual and digital virtual investigations not just within architecture but across scientific and art based communities. Michael Fox's pedagogical approach to inspiring students of the potential for new forms of interactive space encapsulates a base foundation of a number of these disciplines.
“The teaching methods were carried out with a group of undergraduate design students who had no previous experience in mechanical engineering, electronics, programming, or kinetic design with the goal of creating a responsive kinetic system that can demonstrate physical interactive behaviors on an applicable architectural scale. We found the approach to be extremely successful in terms of psychologically demystifying unfamiliar and often daunting technologies, while simultaneously clarifying the larger architectural implications of the novel systems that had been created.”
Student began with a series of small investigations in model making cumulatively building up to incorporating engineering and computing components while supported by lectures creating a conceptual framework. “It is in this manner that the students' initial model explorations gradually grow in complexity, integrating first automatic functions, and later, more complex autonomous behaviors and lastly architectural applicability and conceptual insight.”
Michael Fox shows how interactive architecture doesn't require a degree in computing, electronics, and architecture just to get things going. The combination of simple practical skills from these disciplines within a conceptual framework is capable of creating something much more exciting than the individual disciplines would appear to offer. Over the next few weeks I'll be showing some of the projects that Michael Fox has run. Robotecture Website
April 20th, 2006
Artist Makoto Ishiwata newest piece: Vacuum Packing!: Heartbeat , a polyhedron-shaped giant capsule, vacuum packs its inhabitant from all sides in rubber and a rhythmic soundscape. Ishiwata intentions were to create a space for self-reflection and meditation. The heartbeat also encouraging the sense of internal space
“I can feel like an individual in the midst of humanity, through the image of something internal such as a cell, an atom, or a fetus. Keeping in mind the insignificance of humanity, as I shrink ever smaller, it may be possible to confirm my existence in the universe on an electronic level. Or this work may simply serve as a space to meditate. The heartbeat is the very first rhythm humans feel. I believe all music has the heartbeat as its source. The moment that human beings connect to the heartbeat that flows within us, the music that we hear starts to sound right.”
via wmmna
April 19th, 2006
I’ve enjoyed the work of Adam Somlai-Fischer for some time so it was great to finally see him present his work at the Game Set Match Conference last week. Rather than go into detail on all of his work I’ve made a synopsis of some of his projects which you can find out more about at Aether Architecture .
Ping Genius Loci
A programmable space installation, a new member in the induction house series, developed by aether architecture with Bengt Sjölén . Ping Genius Loci is built up from 400 radio networked, solar powered, self sustainable intelligent analogue pixels, that are placed on a 20 by 20 meters grid.
These pixels function in the bright sunshine, and are interfacing the people walking in the grid. It also can act as a large low resolution screen as each device individually switches its RGB like configurations. At the same time interaction scenarios, games and functions are being developed, to open up architecture to its use.
Aleph Reflection Remapping
Aleph is an experimental public display, that is using the spaces, people and objects it faces as a palette to display messages from hidden viewpoints. When looking at a small mirror, it reflects a fraction of the space around us, when looking at a mirror façade, it reflects most things around us, containing segments that are dark or bright, red or green.
But if we build a matrix of small mirrors, which can adjust their tilt according to the site they are facing, we can create a display that uses the ever changing flux of the place to show images from certain points in space. It will not be comprehendable from all viewpoints, just from specific ones, asking visitors to explore the space, or providing surprising flashes in a public setup that can stay around the edge of comprehension.
Induction House
Aether Induction House is an experimental architecture project consisting of three prototypes. Dealing with mediated spaces, existences and space interpretations.
Focusing on transforming the primarily visual digital environment into a physical and tactile experience, finding an architectural and tectonic embodiment. Have computers and software been promoted to the role of “assistants”, tools that have important effects on the design? Or what are the perspectives and limitations of such servo mechanisms? Autonomous architecture? Building printers? Widespread solutions offered by software guides and wizards? The disappearance of the architect, or its role shifting to the design of algorithms that are able to figure out creative solutions without human intervention?
This is just a small taste of the work Adam is involved with so check out his amazing website which details the projects from start to finish including electronic schematics and code.
April 18th, 2006
Chronos Chromos Concrete is a system that is able to dynamically display patterns, numbers and text in concrete surfaces. Application could include anything from products for the home to large scale architectural installations.
Chris Glaister, Afshin Mehin, and Tomas Rosen of the Royal College of Art Innovation Unit have developed embedded devices which allow graphics, words and numbers to be displayed through concrete.
Video
First, thermochromic ink is mixed with concrete. Second, nickel chromium wires, which heat up when electric current is passed through them, are set beneath the concrete surface. The area above the wire changes colour when a certain temperature is reached. The arrangement of these wires beneath the concrete allows the display of graphics and information.
via transmaterial
April 15th, 2006
Daan Roosegaarde describes his work as fluctuating between sculpture and architecture. Last year he unveiled his 4d pixel project and it appeared widely over the blogosphere. Last week I got the opportunity to find out more about his work when he talked at Game Set Match. Out of all his work his liquid space projects which he continues to develop were of most interest to me since he shares my curiosity with physically transforming space.
Liquid Space is a space which physically reacts to the behavior of the visitor. Through the use of sensors, software and mechanisms, the space changes in form and sound. This way, a dynamic situation is created in which visitor and space become one.
Liquid 2.0 which is under development is an interactive living cocoon which physically adapts to sounds of the visitors. Daan is hoping it will be more adaptive, more sensual, and more dangerous.
April 13th, 2006
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