This is a diagram for an electronic way-finding system designed for display screens on each floor of the new media lab. The concept tackles two major issues, the simple and effective representation of the spaces of the media lab as well as the tracking and layering of data over that space representing the activity occurring within the space.

Spatial representation

Since the media lab is organized orthogonally the map should be an exploded isometric view that can be rotated through four different view points, one biasing each axis and one biasing each direction. The map also presents the spaces of the media lab through three different levels of focus, the building over all, a floor, and an area within the floor. Allowing for the for detailed information to be presented about the space but only where the user wants to focus. (ie the overall map should provide enough information to allow the person to get to the floor they want but the floor should contain more detail about the different programs on it, and the area should provide detailed information about the activities occurring within that.

Tracking

Rather than just tracking peoples geographic location within the building (personally i find this a little creepy, i propose rather then tracking people we just display what spaces are inhabited and which are empty) The idea is to provide a series of lenses of data to be tracked in the building that provide an overall idea of what is occurring in the media lab. By selecting and deselecting information to be tracked can bias the display depending on the users purpose, ie attending a class or lecture or trying to find someone. The categories for meta data being people events, projects and classes(These should all be able to be generated dynamically)