smithwic's blog

Three Facade Sketches

smithwic — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:27:46 +0000

The Idea Mixer
An interactive fluid mechanics simulation representing the
flow and mixing of ideas in the media lab; it also previews the new lab.

The Empathetic Facade
The building reacts to its inhabitants' moods.

The Embossed Building
The building reconfigures its surface to simulate
various light interactions, such as surface textures, bas-relief
and embossing.

Uplifting Scroll

smithwic — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:09:33 +0000

The Uplifting Scroll
For this assignment, I imagined the elevator as a scroll viewer. The virtual scroll is as tall as the building, and the elevator travels up and down viewing portions of the scroll. Not only would the passengers be allowed to view the scroll through a “window” in the elevator cab, but they would also be allowed to draw on the scroll by interacting with the elevator door.

A Flash demo is included.

An elevator is also called a lift. The scroll can be inspiring and encourage you to use the lift to view it, so I called it the "uplifting scroll".

Wayfinding for Everyone

smithwic — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:32:49 +0000

My revision of my Wayfinding System for E-14.

Based on the comments to phase 1, I tried to
simplify the interface and find commonalities
between different groups that use the building.

Digital Wayshowing Ideas (LISTENER)

smithwic — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:27:04 +0000

I mainly thought about how different people could use a central digital map in E14's first floor lobby (typical place) in conjunction with the auxiliary waypoint maps located on each floor (elevators, lab entrances, intersections) -- my Andromeda Strain display.

I considered four different groups of people and how they would use the same wayfinding system.

Scheduled Groups
already have itineraries, but may not know building or people
Delivery Guys
already have name or room#, doesn't want to explore
Unscheduled Visitors
want common destinations (admin, bathroom, lab)
may know name or room #
Building Occupants
1. faculty/students
  where is staff, equip., talk, avail. room? Who has special skills?
2. staff
  who is in controlled space (fablab), where are faculty/students?
3. facilities/security
  who is in the building? special room requests?

The good, the bad and the ugly of spatial information (Quinn: LISTENER)

smithwic — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:21:01 +0000

Symbolism (metaphorical or literal) links the Form (spatial) and Function (information) of Spatial Information

Good Example:

Bunker Hill Monument projection ( Wodiczko 1998)
[inline:BunkerHill_2.jpg]

They said to me, if only monuments could speak. And so I suggested, "Why don't you speak through this monument?" If only this monument could speak. "Why don't you become a monument--at least for several evenings?" The monument should speak because the monument saw what was happening, who was murdered where and by whom. The monument could then imagine itself saying: "This happened just behind me," or "on the left side," or "in front, where you are, down there. You small people, among whom there may be one of those who killed my son or someone who didn't say anything." -Professor Krzysztof Wodiczko

Symbolism strongly links information and form

Function

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