The past 7 weeks has been very productive- we have all learnt a lot. The process has been long, 6 opinions on every detail of the project, but that has in it self been a very learning part of the project. All in all I feel that we managed to find a good balance- and made a project that both id and im feel good about, and more importantly were able to learn a lot from.

Is has been tough but also very fun.   

Christian 

Project description
RGB-ench

Islandsbrygge gruppen
ID og IM 2. semester
D. 2/6 version 1
Subject:
Narratives, light and robotics
Soffia Einarsdottir, Qi Zhu, Jakob Gupta, Mathias Mølgaard Jensen,
Pzemek Szuba, Christian Duus.

Subject description:

To create a social space in a public environment that rewards those who stand out of the crowd with focus on developing a
new sustainable object that can transform public space
through light.

Problem formulation:

How can we create an intimate and relaxing area in a public space for those who take the time to stop, and how can we furthermore reward those who stand out from the crowd with a surprising experience?

Aim:

Keywords: reward, print, intimacy, color,
surprise, city signals.

We live in a society where people are dressed in anonymous
colors like black, gray, white and brown. The color
you see in big cities and industry.
We have observed that it is very difficult to add color
to the city in a legal way other than through your clothing.

We have also observed that when you go trough the city you pass a lot of people in a rush, but rarely have any contact.

We would like to add some color, intimacy, magic and calmness to
the city as we know it.

Target groupe- context:

The target group I obviously those who takes uses the benches to rest fore a while. The people who are wearing red, green or blue will be the ones that trigger the interaction- so they can be considered as the main target group
As they are the ones we want to reward with the bench.

Keywords:

Light, robotics, big cities, society, social, personal space, peace,
stress, nature, organic, consumption, industry, urban myth,
surprise, magic, dynamic, sustainability, interaction/dialogue.

Motivation:

We wish to create an indirect interaction between bench
and user. A camera records the colors of the users clothes an
uses the information to change the color of the bench. Because the camera is hidden, the colors will come as surprise to the user, making the experince more powerful.

The bench contains the contrast of organic and robotic. The
form is inspired by the forces of nature and and the lights
represents the robotic part of our design. We have created
a robot that strive to add a poetic element to the city. Giving life and soul to robotics.
The reason it only reacts to the color r,g,b is that they representative of the very core value of robotics.
We have cut to the bone a created simplified design
and interaction.
The bench is 100% self sufficient and build by sustainable
materials.

It is powered partly by pieso mekanics that collects energi from people passing by and partly by soller cells.
By combining robotics, code, light and sustainable materials we
are hoping to add something to the city that is beautiful, practical,
organic, mystical, environmentally friendly and always changing

Critical standpoints:

It has been difficult building the model in sustainable materials
because of financial and practical reasons. Therefor we have
not had the opportunity of testing the original materials.

The previously mentioned energy source, the pieso mekanismens tha collect the vibration energy, has not yet been fully developed so we have had to integrate a secondary energy source.

Because the project is meant to be installed in a public space
there are some requirements to strength, theft, vandalism and weather conditions we have not been able to fulfill in the 1:1
model.
Furthermore there have been some unpredictable problems with
the material we have chosen, that required
some alternative solutions.

Teori:
Personality thoug color, transparent solorpanels, waterpower, piezo mekanics
Perspeption, perspective, destortion of shape, alternative lightsources, the marked, lifetime of the materials, architecture of major cities.

Things to consider:
Signal value of color, what it tells about the people wearing it.
Combining poetry and technology- by creating a magical atmosphere around a design object.
Making dialog- by simulating playfulness and natural curiosity.

monday the 26/5-08.. group4 lost a team member to the fair country of Poland.

It is a little bit sad, but we will keep on working- and ofcourse stay in  touch with mister Poland..

christian

While measuring the model and adjusting dimensions to proper values, we’ve discovered some useful stuff about our spiral inspired shape:

If it rains, raindrops proceed around the block following the path of spiral. It may give a really pleasant view for those who will be passing it in that kind of weather. Unusual as for average benches depth of sitting area makes it both easy to lay down and chill out but combined with the edge of our spiral also gives you an extra ledge to place your foot on.

Attracting visually
Unexpected shape
Uses solarcells

Form to promote privacy
Sitting area for 1-2 people
The form is shaped to reflect the light
Provide shadow in the daytime
Collect enegy during day (solarcells)