Real-Time Cities: an Introduction to Urban Cybernetics Harvard Design School: SCI 0646900

1. Owen Deutsch Exercise #3: Case Studies in Urban Spatial, Architectural, or Artifactual Actuation Real-Time Cities: an Introduction to Urban Cybernetics Harvard Design School: SCI 0646900 Spring 2014

2. Case Studies in Urban Spatial, Architectural, or Artifactual Actuation 1 | S(entient) Park Concept, Minneapolis, MN 2 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics, London, United Kingdom 3 | In Between Square Project, Seoul, South Korea 4 | The Switched-On Garden, Bartram Garden, Philadelphia 5 | Voic Tunnel, Park Avenue, NYC, NY

3. 1 | SPark Project Video: http://vimeo.com/85677029

4. 1 | SPark

5. 1 | SPark Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? Installations and performing arts Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Heart rate sensors How the performance of the piece/instalation is conditioned? The rhythm of one person’s heartbeat, or multiple interacting rhythms, are broadcast to robotic “flowers” stationed throughout a park

6. 1 | SPark Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? When the “flower” sculptures are triggered, LED lights and movement reflect the “waves” of the users’ heartbeats. What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? A local wireless network coordinates the action of the “flowers”. Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The system operates in real-time and has no memory.

7. 1 | SPark What is the extreme vision of the scenario? The Spark project will be documented with social media and recorded, and possibly expanded to the rest of the city Why is the project significant? Public art installations which respond to heartbeats are becoming increasingly popular. A recent art installation in Boston explored a similar, non-networked concept. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The intersection of something as organic and personal as a heartbeat with technology which may not be immediately understandable to most people creates a certain sense of wonder. Some of the discomfort which may be associated with it is also ameliorated by the “natural” forms this installation imitates.

8. 1 | SPark What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Security is one issue, as demonstrated by the theft in Boston of part of an installation where monitors turned heartbeats into music. Maintaining the synchronicity of the piece is also essential to its success. What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? From the concept images of the “flower” sculptures and the patterns of its responses, this project looks pretty good. How can the system scale up or down to fit a different context of operation? How can its logic of operation or technology be re-appropriated for the different context? With heartbeat monitors dispersed throughout a city, if there were some way for these to still be interactive but still visually interesting to the monitors’ users, its scale could be much greater.

9. 1 | SPark How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? There is only one node in the installation- the monitor itself- so even if one of the “flowers” failed, the rest of the installation would be unaffected. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? Single nodal, with distributed outputs What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registred through other senses beyond vision? Vision is the only intended sense being entertained, but sound could possible be incorporated, as well.

10. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics Felix Faire Project Video: http://vimeo.com/82107250

11. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics

12. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? Installation and performing art Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Contact microphones, loop pedals, Piezo sensors How the performance of the piece/instalation is conditioned? Any hard, flat surface can be used for the piece, which uses different finger motions to create different sounds, which are simultaneously visualized and projected back onto the surface.

13. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? projectors, LEAP Motion controller, Arduino processors What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? The piece is part of a single circuit Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The system operates in real-time. No functions of memory or anticipation are incorporated.

14. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics What is the extreme vision of the scenario? Any surface could be an instrument, synthesizing music and visuals Why is the project significant? The Contact project appears to be an exceptionally well-designed example of this type of media interaction What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The musical and visual aspect of the system can be as poetic as language is.

15. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? The system requires a relatively significant investment in and calibration of sensors and processing and projecting technology. What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? The overall design is compelling How can the system scale up or down to fit a different context of operation? How can its logic of operation or technology be re-appropriated for the different context? The system could be scaled up or down, but would have to be recalibrated. In theory, any sized flat surface would be a suitable platform.

16. 1 | Contact: Augmented Acoustics How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? There is no apparent consideration of component failure. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? The information flow does not extend beyond the user and spectators. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registred through other senses beyond vision? The Contact system explores aural and visual actuation.

17. 1 | In Between Square Project IVAAIU City Planning. Project Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWePc2YdOTQ

18. 1 | In Between Square Project

19. 1 | In Between Square Project Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? VII “Environments, architectural spaces, and smart artifacts that solicit people’s needs and desires that they sense via direct input from the inhabitants, or sensed from the contextual information” Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Passers-by can interact with the project by touch or program the mobile pavilions themselves How the performance of the piece/instalation is conditioned? The piece is intended to be a makeshift public space, as a collection of modular components.

20. 1 | In Between Square Project Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? The piece consists of interactive lighting, visual projections and sounds What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? The In Between Square Project appears to be one physically connected piece. Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The system may include memory, but responds in real-time to users.

21. 1 | In Between Square Project What is the extreme vision of the scenario? These pieces could be located in any public space, but would be most functional at night and with enough supervision Why is the project significant? The project is improvisational and doesn’t carry any predetermined message. Users have a degree of customization over its operation. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? Any poetry here is concise and a little cryptic, but without a high degree of pretension

22. 1 | In Between Square Project What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Users are liable to not understand the purpose of this project, and be more frustrated with it than impressed. What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? The system’s aesthetics don’t seem to have been an important consideration in its design, perhaps intentionally. How can the system scale up or down to fit a different context of operation? How can its logic of operation or technology be re-appropriated for the different context? The system is modular, and so can be scaled up or down, although the logic of it is constrained by the requirement of people being nearby to use and comprehend it.

23. 1 | In Between Square Project How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? No information is give on any safeguards built into the system. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? The system’s logic of operation is something of a black box. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registred through other senses beyond vision? Audio and visual actuation are this system’s subjects of exploration.

24. 1 | The Switched-On Garden Data Garden Project Video: http://vimeo.com/55242078

25. 1 | The Switched-On Garden

26. 1 | The Switched-On Garden Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? Installations and performing arts Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Microphones and electrical sensors turn natural processes into sounds How the performance of the piece/instalation is conditioned? A variety of installations explore how nature can be transformed into an interactive musical experience

27. 1 | The Switched-On Garden Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Microphone feedback and interactive kinetic patterns What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? The installations exist as single circuits Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The audio feedback is based on short-term memory, but the piece mostly operates in real-time

28. 1 | The Switched-On Garden What is the extreme vision of the scenario? This kind of installation could be used in other natural spaces everywhere Why is the project significant? This model of interactive choreography is not usually this intimately intertwined with the natural environment What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The natural aspect of this system distinguishes its poetry

29. 1 | The Switched-On Garden What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? The installation consists of many sensitive components, and may be difficult to understand at a glance What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? Non-natural aspects of the system are mostly unobtrusive How can the system scale up or down to fit a different context of operation? How can its logic of operation or technology be re-appropriated for the different context? The system can be scaled or applied to a variety of natural contexts

30. 1 | The Switched-On Garden How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? The system does not appear to anticipate failure What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? The logic is improvisational and subject to personal whims What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registred through other senses beyond vision? Vision and sound are the two natures of actuation explored

31. 1 | Voice Tunnel Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, DOT Summer Streets Program Project Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOpI9QLMHMw

32. 1 | Park Avenue Tunnel

33. 1 | Park Avenue Tunnel Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? Immersive media environment Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Microphones How the performance of the piece/instalation is conditioned? Participant’s voices are turned into a light and sound installation, simulating echoes down the length of the tunnel

34. 1 Park Avenue Tunnel Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Microphones connected to intercoms What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? The piece appears to be connected, though parts may be wireless Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The system operates in real-time

35. 1 | Park Avenue Tunnel What is the extreme vision of the scenario? This idea could be applied to other tunnels or enclosed spaces, using audio input other than voices Why is the project significant? This is the first time the Park Avenue tunnel had been opened to pedestrian traffic, demonstrating the potential of these projects to create new types of citizen participation What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The novelty and scale of this project, while still being responsive to multiple participants

36. 1 | Park Avenue Tunnel What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Synchronization and timing seem to be the main challenges What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? The aesthetics of the design are not especially promoted How can the system scale up or down to fit a different context of operation? How can its logic of operation or technology be re-appropriated for the different context? This system could be scaled up, as it is mostly modular

37. 1 | Park Avenue Tunnel How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? Failure does not seem to be a considered aspect What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? The system’s logic consists of simple audio and lighting feedback What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registred through other senses beyond vision? Voice, travel, and light are explored