Intelligence in Environments

Novel Modes of Engagement with Data in Shared Spaces

Overview

TCS Hall is the first “smart” building on CMU campus that monitors activities and collects data within the building and regulates itself for energy efficiency. However, there is a disconnect between the collected data and people’s experience in the building. We aim to visualize that data in the form of an abstract creature, which responds to people’s motion and sound. Ultimately, we want to establish a deeper connection between people and the space they inhabit.

Project Duration

5 Weeks

Tools

Unity, AfterEffects, Rhino 3D, Cinema4D, drones, Figma

Collaborators

Max Stockdale, Yash Mittal

My Role

Developed concept; designed the technical system; visualized the space in 3D; edited concept video

Concept Video

Context

Mites.io

The sensor package deployed at TCS collected a variety of data and processed them with an algorithm that informs people of the building’s status, like energy consumption and noise level.

TCS Hall

The building houses one continuous staircase with glass panels. The staircase space is an area of heavy foot traffic, full of spontaneity.

CMU

The school has ambitious goals related to campus sustainability and plans to implement more technical solutions to create intelligent buildings.

Opportunities

Staircase

  • Areas near the staircase have the highest foot traffic, specifically the main staircase right near the entrance. Mites sensors are also densest in this area.

  • The staircase in the building feels dull and disconnected from the rest of the building.

Data

  • There are small posters in the building informing people of the sensors and data-gathering, but people don’t know what the data is used for. This leads to a lack of emotional connection with the building and its sustainable initiatives.

Insights

  1. TCS Hall inherently displays traits of a living creature: it senses, responds, and self-regulates. There is also extensive use of the color green, which mimics a natural environment.

  2. We could situate the experience in an area of constant foot traffic, like the staircase, to ensure engagement.

  3. The Mites.io sensor package takes in data but there is no visible output that helps people understand the building and its initiatives.

Concept

We want to create a fun, spontaneous, and discoverable experience integrated into the building’s staircase so the visitors leave the building feeling connected to TCS’s sustainable goals.

We aim to visualize data in a bee-shaped creature that lives in the staircase area. Depending on real-time data collected in the building, the creature’s form, color, and behavior change.

Visuals

Tech Diagram

Mobile Touchpoint

View the creature in real-time on an Augmented Reality app