ambient :: flux

My presentation of Copenhagen’s Yearly Events can be viewed here

My Urban TechWear Presentation focusing on nanotechnologies + the urban environment can be viewed here

According to Adam Greenfield, ambient informatics refers not so much to that technical substrate or installed infrastructure but to the condition it will give rise to in use. Given this notion, I began to think about the social infrastructure that we have created within our cities, ways in which to link it to the physical environment of the urban condition, and the implications of such an intervention.

As a parallel, I also looked at The Transparent Society by Gianni Vattimo.“The mass media, which in theory offer information in ‘real-time’ about everything happening in the world could in effect be seen as a kind of concrete realization of the perfect self-consciousness of the whole of humanity; the coincidence between what happens, history and human knowledge. [On the contrary] the freedom given by the mass media to so many cultures has belied the very ideal of a transparent society. What could freedom of information, or even the existence of more than one radio or TV channel, mean in a world where the norm is the exact reproduction of reality, perfect objectivity, the complete identity of map and territory? In actual fact, the increase in possible information on the myriad forms of reality makes it increasingly difficult to conceive of a single reality.”-Gianni Vattimo, The Transparent Society

Given this notion at hand, one can argue that the only true sense of reality that we have is each other. Technology should therefore embrace the social need to for people to connect to one another in a world that is becoming increasingly alienating. How can we use sensing technology + urban computing to physically and intellectually connect ourselves to our environment?

Likewise, I envision a similar reality. Current networks such as Facebook or Myspace are becoming increasingly popular, but are still relatively stagnant because they are still based in the virtual realm. The type of social interaction that I am proposing is no different than the concepts these programs. Sensors currently take in various kinds of information, news, train schedules, variable energy and other ephemeral fluctuations within the built environment. What if they began to not only sense people’s presence but their current moods, hobbies, [etc…]

A less drastic look at such an implication could be as simple as a real-time sensing. Much like the T-Shirt that Changes colors based on the temperature of its wearer, an idea for this type of information display could be embedded within a system where participants could embed a certain article of clothing (such as a T-shirt) with personal information that may include hobbies, activities, likes and dislikes. Instead of responding to one’s own change in temperature, or internal environment, the T-shirt could respond to other compatible strangers who come within reasonable proximity to the wearer. The response could be a change in shirt color, or something less conspicuous, like change in temperature…something that only the wearer can feel. People then had a choice as to whether or not to approach the other person and make a possible connection.

If pushed to an extreme level, this type of social networking can become place-based, and use real-time to indicate as to one’s whereabouts. As a result, ad-hoc social networks can begin to emerge within the city. Using the idea of a CB radio system, as currently implemented by truck drivers, for instance, this type of real-time, real-space networking can connect people who share similar interests, hobbies, ideas, occupations, [etc…] and allow users to specify their level of anonymity. Physically locating individuals who wish to subscribe to this type of networking service, may empower them to share their interests with others.

This type of networking may naturally begin to feedback into the system and begin to alter the way in which we move about the city. Being aware of the type of people that one is surrounded by, an individual can plan their route or work schedule to accommodate his or her interests and preferences. Suddenly, a café isn’t just a café anymore, but can begin to establish itself as a social forum, an office, a meeting room, etc. Spatially and programmatically, architecture can become shaped in ways to accommodate this level of sporadic social networking.

In addition, previous modes of transportation may be altered to accommodate a programmatically flexible city. Instead of going from destination to destination, a bus can transport people from program to program, which would change throughout the day. Based on this type of information, one may find themselves more productive in an environment where one is surrounded by people who share similar interests. The traditional office, now already beginning to fizzle, due to programs like Microsoft Live Meeting, may become even more obsolete due to the fact that people may wish to work in a setting where they find themselves the most productive. Based on musical preferences, for instance, a lawyer may be more productive sharing a space with a bicycle messenger…The result may lead to a more programmatically diverse city, where the threshold between different occupations and socio-economic levels would slowly become more blurred.

If coupled with current modes of sensing which focus on environmental and ambient spatial qualities, one would be able to accurately quantify the surrounding with which they choose to encompass themselves. The city would therefore be more comprehensible for those who choose to subscribe to this type of service, and perhaps not feel so alone in this increasingly alienating society. What would this mean in terms of what a map of the morphology of the future city? The new urban map could be based on the description and location of atmospheres, senseable flux, centers of knowledge…not merely streets and buildings.

The slideshow of my presentation can be downloaded here