Real-Time Cities: an Introduction to Urban Cybernetics Harvard Design School: SCI Spring 2014 Radhya Adityavarman Exercise #3: Case Studies Informatically Driven Actuation

Reactive Facades These case studies explore architectures that modify and enhance their perception and performance by adding another layer, often a digital layer, on top of the existing structure, that has the potential to inform the users around it of something, and is capable of changing. 1 | Technorama Facade 2 | MoMA facade projection 3 | Kinetic Flow 4 | Super Cilia Skin 5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics

In this case study the facade for the building is composed of thousands of aluminum panels that move in the air currents and reveal the complex patterns of turbulence in the wind. Project Video: 1 | Technorama Facade

Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? IV. Where the space is created around a piece that communicates the designer’s concept and the audience is engaged in a voyeuristic act Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Movement-initiating agents How the performance of the piece/installation is conditioned? Aluminum panels that don’t depend on motors or sensors move in the air currents.

1 | Technorama Facade Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Movement- initiating agents, doesn’t have any sensors but it would be interesting to attach accelerometers on it to track wind speed. What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? As mentioned earlier the aluminum panels act as a façade blocking out unsightly object behind it. It would be cool to add sensors to the piece to connect the piece to the different parts Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? The system is dynamic always changing, if sensors were added it would be interesting to see patterns, in which we could create default form from.

1 | Technorama Facade What is the extreme vision of the scenario? A building surface that adapts to the wind current. Why is the project significant? It reveals a process tat would otherwise go unnoticed. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The wind is invisible as with data, the intersection between the natural and technology, converting something that is invisible in nature into invisible data.

1 | Technorama Facade What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Any of the aluminum panels can fail What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? It is quite nice looking, but before any sensors are added it is all aesthetic. 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? In windy areas the panels can provide users with quick information regarding wind speed and wind direction.

1 | Technorama Facade How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? The system is not necessarily connected in a way were total failure would be detrimental What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? If sensors were attached to the facade, information would be collected from there and displayed on some device. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registered through other senses beyond vision? Beyond vision it plays with the sensation of touch, as you feel the invisible wind brush past you, you can physically see it brush past the façade of the building.

Continuous sequences of film scenes were projected onto seven facades. Inspired by the densely built environment of New York's midtown, the artist will create a cinematic art experience that directly integrates with the architectural fabric of the city while simultaneously enhancing and challenging viewers' perceptions of public space. Project Link: 2 | MoMA facade projection

Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? IIX. Environments, architectural spaces, and smart artifact that are digitally enhanced so that that they act as mediators of what we define as NSA (No Strings Attached) or fleeting/fearless social encounters amongst their inhabitants Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Light emitting- agents How the performance of the piece/installation is conditioned? Films were digitally projected on to the facades

2 | MoMA facade projection Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Architectural surfaces as digital screens What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? Projection technology Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? More towards the future as people watch the films they will remember the past events and anticipate what happens next

2 | MoMA facade projection What is the extreme vision of the scenario? Providing a surface and method of conveying to a lot of people very efficiently without depending on people to need any external devices. Why is the project significant? Architectural surfaces are transformed for the delivery of context aware digital information. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? Images projected can be artistic in nature invoking different feeling in people that see it

2 | MoMA facade projection 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 cost to project the images and films may be expensive, more efficient ways to display information What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? It does not effect the existing physical aesthetics as it can be turned off. 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? It can be scaled up and project information in different directions, for example information can be projected on to the ground, in order to direct people to move somewhere.

2 | MoMA facade projection How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? The projection can fail, however it does not physically effect the façade. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? Films are projected on to the surface, people react to the projections. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registered through other senses beyond vision? Using architectural surfaces as digital screen is mostly registered through vision however, it can potentially be registered though hearing as well

A visualization for a leaning 18' x 24' concrete wall above a staircase and escalator unit at the entrance of the Vermont/Santa Monica subway station. The design concept derived from the kinetic experience of the downward movement on both escalator and staircase, one smooth, the other sequential. The abstract visual rendition uses statistical data sampled from LA metro traffic circulation to seed the image generating equation. Project Link: 3 | Kinetic Flow

Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? IX. Environments, architectural spaces, and smart artifact that are digitally enhanced so that that they act as mediators of what we define as NSA (No Strings Attached) or fleeting/fearless social encounters amongst their inhabitants Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Action detection, vibration sensor, accelerometer, sensing tactile interation How the performance of the piece/installation is conditioned? Using data abstract renditions are created and then installed on the tilted concrete wall above the escalator and staircase.

3 | Kinetic Flow Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Movement- initiating/ Architectural surfaces to convey information What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? The piece is physically mounted onto the concrete wall Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? It operates based on past information

3 | Kinetic Flow What is the extreme vision of the scenario? Using statistical information we can inform people of past patterns in order to live more efficiently. Why is the project significant? The tilted concrete wall above the escalator and staircase conveys a dramatic presence and is suggestive of kinetic and cinematic motion. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? The experience of movement down the stairs is a reminder of the 19th Century scientist Jules-Etienne Marey's photographic recordings of movement experiments that eventually influenced Duchamp and the Futurists.

3 | Kinetic Flow What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Maintenance is not too concerning in the long run given the static nature of the piece. What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? The pattern created is interesting, and provides data that wouldn’t necessarily be thought about. 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 idea can be scaled up to show more information, with the possibility of a more dynamic piece that changes.

3 | Kinetic Flow How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? The system is independent of the piece and will be fine in the event of total failure. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? Statistics are represented in a piece and then installed. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registered through other senses beyond vision? Movement- initiating agent. Beyond vision it plays with the idea of movement and taking a snapshot of it.

MIT Media Lab created a tactile & visual system consisting of an array of individual actuators (cilia) that use changes in orientation to display images or physical gestures. this multi-modal interactive membrane can improve interpersonal haptic communication because it is multi-modal, so that gestures can be seen, or images be felt. Project Video: 4 | Super Cilia Skin

Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? IX. Environments, architectural spaces, and smart artifact that are digitally enhanced so that that they act as mediators of what we define as NSA (No Strings Attached) or fleeting/fearless social encounters amongst their inhabitants Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to impliment spatial gaze? Touch Sensors How the performance of the piece/installation is conditioned? Super Cilia Skin is a tactile and visual system. Its ability to replay dynamic gesture over time holds valuable potential.

4 | Super Cilia Skin Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? It consists of an array of computer-controlled actuators that are anchored to an elastic membrane. These actuators represent information by changing their physical orientation What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? Super Cilia Skin is a literal membrane separating a computer from its environment Is the system operates based on a memory of the past and/or anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns? Anticipation of the future through recognition of past patterns

4 | Super Cilia Skin What is the extreme vision of the scenario? On an architectural scale, a facade covered with Super Cilia Skin could represent the "wake" of a local wind pattern billowing up and down the surface during the day generating energy. Why is the project significant? As a more general display surface, a Super Cilia Skinned floor could trace movement over one’s house or weather patterns over the entire state of Massachusetts. What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? This sensibility is intended to pervade a sense of relationships between local and global conditions.

4 | Super Cilia Skin What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Sensor can malfunction, need to be maintained What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? It’s interesting to look at, but might distract from aesthetics of the base structure. 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? It can be used in toys and possibly the field of education

4 | Super Cilia Skin How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? When total failure is faced the system will not provide the user with the intended feedback What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? Information is collected by the sensors and communicate responses to the user What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registered through other senses beyond vision? It explores and registers the sense of touch

Architecture by Carlo Ratti, SENSEable City Lab and more is a massive display system, planned as an expo structure annex monument for the London Olympics in The project age proposes an entirely new form of "observation deck", one from which one can not only see the whole of London, but the whole of the world, immersed in gusts of weather and world data, live information with data and imagery from around the city and the world. Project Link: 5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics

Which of the 10 possible categories of scenarios the Project belongs to? IV. Where the space is created around a piece that one of the audience interacts with while others maintain the persona of spectators of the act Which sensing technology/ types of sensors are deployed to implement spatial gaze? Light Emitting How the performance of the piece/installation is conditioned? A suspended field of distributed LED signage, enables it to be seen from all directions, including from within

5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics Which actuation technology is used to provide for dynamism of the piece? Architectural surfaces as digital screens What connectivity technology is used to connect different parts of the informatically driven system at question? Information of the games is connected to the system as it is displayed 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 on memories of the past.

5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics What is the extreme vision of the scenario? Displaying data to a large group of people. Why is the project significant? "Like all tell-tale signs of brooding weather, the Cloud is a display system. It is both screen and barometer, archive and sensor, past and future. The patterns of its animated skins offer a civic-scale smart-meter for London as a whole, sign-posting particular events, transport patterns, weather forecasts, timetables, and footage either real-time or decades old. Its movements can reveal the movement of both the crowds below and those within its structure - a space alive to the touch, an aerial ecology." What do you identify as a poetic aspect to the logic of operation of the system at question? It destroys the antique divide between audience and spectacle; the people become the project & projection, watching and learning from themselves, transmuted into light."

5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics What challenges are inherent in deployment of the project or maintaining the integrity or level of operation of the system in the long run? Expensive, cost to maintain and power the system, questionable use after the games What is your evaluation of the design of the physical manifestation of the system in terms of its esthetics? It looks great, different, and provides information that is relevant to the site. 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? Possibility to be scaled down for personal uses.

5 | The Cloud: Massive-Scale Display Monument for the London Olympics How the system will deal with nodal or total failure in operation? When the system fails it will have to be backed up and re configured. It will essentially be just a structure. What is the system’s logic of operation and information flow/architecture? Information is received and then displayed. What is the nature of actuation explored by the system? Does it explore generation of change that is registered through other senses beyond vision? Users experience more than just vision, as they are encouraged to move around the site to see the different displays.