This past Friday EyeBeam held a speaker series and panel discussion centered on the theme of Interactive Architecture. The event, sponsored by the Bartlett School of Architecture, featured presentations from Phil Ayres (Sixteen Makers), Carmen Trudell and Jennifer Broutin (EyeBeam), Marek Walczak (MW2MW) and David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang (The Living). The event was well attend and in general the discussion was thought provoking.

While discussing the idea of Architecture as a persistent model, Phil Ayres asked, what is the cycle or the behavior of the form or space? An interesting question if you buy into the belief that we will one day exist (and inhabit) mutable forms and structures. Some of Ayres' comments reminded me of Computer Science topics, 'physical objects can inform the digital model which informs the physical model once again'. At times it sounded as if he was describing recursion. In a sense, he was, but with the application to form, structure, and behavior. Can there be such thing as a recursive structure? Not using recursion as a modeling technique but in the cycle of how a building exists?

Carmen Trudell and Jennifer Broutin presented an ongoing project they have initiated at EyeBeam which aim to harness the power exerted when we open doors . They are specifically looking at how revolving doors in large buildings could act as a turbine of sorts and give energy back to the building. Afterwards someone mentioned that this is also being done in the Tokyo subway stations.

Marek Walczak addressed the fundamental question: 'Can the form of a building or a space be informed by what's going on inside?' taking the idea one step further and addressing aesthetics, 'by doing so can we create experiences that engage, surprise, and delight inhabitants? Walczak's work is simple, which I like. By design it is both conceptual and aesthetically pleasing.

In the Podium Light Wall, recently completed at 7 World Trade Center, the exterior lighting of the building maps the movement of people passing by, with lights that move with them as they pass by. One question that kept coming to mind (and this is a good question in general with interactive work): how would the system react with a crowd? The aesthetics may make sense if there is a one to one relationship between the lights and the person, but will the experience be as effective if there were a crowd gathered outside? Possibly it might strengthen the experience (for viewers) and provide a crescendo. Or, the lighting may seem to 'always be that way' if the crowd is persistent. Either way, the questions that arise by implementing real time reactive systems and build form are good things to contemplate.

David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang, co-teachers of the Living Architecture class at Colombia's GSAP presented two very interesting projects; River Glow an sustainable interface for public pollution monitoring and Living Glass, a responsive architectural system. The common them being:

Input - sensing environmental data in real time
Processing - interpreting the data (doing something with it) and
Output - changing visual and spatial configuration (also real time)

A question that Christian Croft brought up with regards to River Glow was: 'Is providing a public interface enough if there is no actionable recourse?'. For example, what if the the floating buoys were always red (and the water didn't get better or worse, but just worse)? Would people think that that's just how the were? While I generally think that raising awareness is a step in the right direction, this type of question fundamentally asks: Is awareness enough?

This morning, as I casually walked to thesis class, I received a message on my phone. The message was asking if I wanted to receive a message via BlueTooth. Sure, I thought (normally I wouldn't accept messages from strangers but I've planning on wiping my phone soon anyway). A few seconds later, in my hand was a video promoting the Future Weapons series on the Discovery channel. It even gave me an 'access code', probably trying to make me feel 'special'. Later, after visiting the web site, I'm still not quite sure what the access code is for. Go figure.

Crazy, I though. They've got a BlueTooth device polling from inside that buss stop advertisement. How are they powering it? Is it a custom piece of hardware?

The idea of giving people coupons, or advertising to them on their mobile device as they pass by isn't new, but its weird when you wake up and it happens to you. The rest of my walk to school I couldn't help think how annoying it would be if every ad was using the same functionality. I'd probably turn my phone off. But should it really have to come to that?

In his book Life Style, Brue Mau states that, "Global markets demand a predatory colonization of open space".

Has advertising (and the Global Image Economy) commoditized yet another open space? Are the electronics in my pocket no longer safe? While in this specific instance a physical space hasn't been claimed, the bus stop was claimed a long time ago, new a virtual space has. A personal space,in my opinion, one that takes advertising off of the billboard and reaches right into my pocket. However, they're still no closer to my money than they were when I left the building.

Future Weapons - BlueTooth Advertizing
Originally uploaded by delgaudio.

Yahoo! Research Berkeley has released Tag Maps. Tag Maps aims to add a psycho-geographic overlay to any location. By aggregating geo-located Flickr tags, Tag Maps visually shows what people think (or have tagged ) any given area. Pretty cool. Unlike the Lamp/Lamp project mentioned earlier last week, Tag Maps has a public API which makes it even cooler. More information can be found on the Yahoo! Research Berkeley web site.

The image to the left is a bit of clever lighting amusement designed by Hironao Tsuboi. Lamp/Lamp is a play on the simplicity of the light bulb. Tsuboi's design gives the illusion that the light may not actually be plugged in. More info on Lamp/Lamp and many other lighting products are available on the 100per web site. Thanks to Peter Miller for the link.

I'm rested, back on my feet, and starting classes this week. This semester should be a good one. Slightly lighter load and thesis to look forward to. The
photos from our last day's visit to in Vienna are up on the Flickr account. We had such a good time. I'm trying to get back to Vienna already.

A few thoughts on European sensibilities: While I do find it ridiculous that anyone who can light a match can smoke anywhere they please, I do believe that Europeans, more specifically the Austrians, have a foot up when it comes to simple steps which improvement on the quality of life.

Take trains for example; they are dependable, on time, and even dare I say it, clean! They even let you know, down to the minuet, when the next train or subway will be there. I think about this every time I see someone in the New York subway system lean over the tracks, peeking their head around, to see if the lights of the next subway car are approaching. Why should we have to lean over the tracks to see lights in a tunnel? Is this not 2007?

The bag tag to the left is what I consider a prim example of European sensibilities. When I arrived in Vienna, our discussion almost immediately launched into how we all hate the sticky residue left on the luggage handle by bag tags. We even debated if it was a design flaw or the bag, not accommodating a place for the bar code system which uses the sticky tag, or if it were a design flaw of the bag tag being sticky in places it doesn't need to be. Interestingly enough, upon arriving back in The States, I was pleased to find out that the bag tags used by Swiss Air don't leave a sticky residue all over your handle. They're only sticky where they need to be. In much of Europe its 2007.

Side Note: I still prefer the old more colorful system which was not sticky at all, as seen here in the
The Invisible City, Poster for the International Design Conference, Aspen 1972 designed by Ivan Chermayeff.

Yesterday we took the train to Bratislava, Slovakia. Our mission, to visit Danubiana, an art space located on the Danube, in the Slovakian country side, south of the Bratislava city center. Having no car, and not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for a cab we decided to bus it. The bus transfers and the hike through the rural Slovakian towns was an adventure not to be missed. Danubiana is a magnificent art museum not to be missed if in the area. The splendor and beauty of the location alone makes it a desirable journey for anyone.

Late that evening, back in Vienna, we decide it would be a nice treat to wine and dine ourselves a bit. Going on recommendation on eGullet, we decided to eat at Weibel. Their tasting menu was a splendid, delicate balance of Austrian tradition and refined sensibilities. After dinner we adjourned to the American Bar designed by Adolf Loos in 1908. The interior is intentionally deceiving. The use of mirriors gives the illusion that the small space is much larger that it actually is. When in Vienna, its a great place to unwind and indulge in world class cocktail.

We arrived in Vienna last night from St.Anton on the ICE Train (the nicest train I've been on ever btw). We spent the past two days traveling to and skiing/snowboarding in St.Anton em Arlberg. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G doesn't even begin to explain how bad ass this place is. Tricia took a lesson with Tikva. Summer, Stefan and I went straight to the top. We stayed with Stefan in Imst. His family has a wonderful ski hut which we hung out in too. Tricia had a great time and is convinced that we'll hit the slopes together next time we're in Vermont. I tried to take lots of pictures! Take a peek at the Flickr feed.

Today we tried to lay low. We were tired after skiing and traveling all day. We bought some delicious food at the Naschmarket and then viewed films at the Film Museum. My favorites were Le Voyage à travers l'impossible by Georges Méliès and Standard Gauge by Morgan Fisher. Fisher's film in particular reminded me of WayMarker. Not because Fisher is into wearable mobile technology, rather, both Standard Gauge and WayMarkr attempt to look at the beauty in the images which we discard or pass by.

Today we went to the flea market, the Erwin Wurm exhibition at MUMOK, to a cafe, dinner at home (Peter's), and then out for a drink. A delightful day. Two of my favorite images from today include a few from the Erwin Wurm exhibit. More photos are up on the Flickr feed. Lots of good times.

We made it. After traveling for, oh I don't know, almost forever, we arrived in Wien. I think it felt like so long because we took the 6 to the E to the AirTrain, then a seven and half hour flight to Geneva (pause for a hour and half layover), then an hour and half flight to Vienna (Wien) (finally almost there), but not without another train ride and one more subway to the city center. All in all I think we slept, mmm, about two hours and I'm still awake!

But you know what? Vienna is awesome. Peter is awesome. And I can't wait to do more exploring tomorrow. Keep a watch on the Flickr feed! Wooohooo!

The photos left are three of my favorite images from today. Erwin Wurm's House Attack at MUMOK, Tricia and Peter checking out an unbelievably awesome lamp in the Louis Vuitton window, and the flight arrival schedule at the Wein Airport. The amazing thing about the Omega Board like display is that the display uses audio to simulate the sound of the numbers 'flipping' even thought they no longer 'flip'. Cray-z awesome. Brings back some of the analog I miss from Grand Central. I still want to cry every time I'm in the main hall and the numbers are silent. More to come from Wein...

I'm not not going to wish you a happy new year. I'm sick and not happy. I know that's not the best way to start off a year, or even a day, but who says the calendar should dictate the start and stop of anything really, right? So common, here's to all the projects, relationships, movies, lives, and memories that will be: 'to be continued' in 07. Not because its a new year but because this how we go on. We continue. Know what I'm saying? What is exciting, I'll repeat that for emphasis, what is exciting is not that its January, rather, that I'm leaving the country for a while. Austria and Miller here I come. That's all I've got. For now anyway. I love you all and am looking forward to new semester when I return. Watch my Flicker feed if you care. Yes. TTYL.

-Michael