Image: bittbox | Flickr

Who would have thought that a concrete block could be rendered invisible? Well, with the use of augmented reality technologies, just that has been achieved. By allowing sensing technologies which are capable of face-detection to act as an intermediary, the invisible concrete block system is able to tell exactly where an observer’s line of sight is, in relation to the concrete block. With that information, the system projects images of the surroundings that coincide with that observers perspective — making a concrete block render virtually invisible.

I think that such an augmented reality exhibit is quite inspiring to see because it shows how designers can push certain boundaries by combining a unique recipe between technologies, materials and their own creative talents. For instance, just imagine if within your own building design you are able to take a material that has been thought of (and physiologically perceived) in a certain way for a long time, and then create an alternate or unexpected condition by which it can be experienced. This element of “surprise” is one way for you to elicit certain occupant behaviors, memories and learning experiences.

Materials and the many behaviors which they can manifest temporally is a very interesting thing for you as an architect to explore and push. The key is to first understand how those materials are being perceived, have been perceived and how that might need to change in order to convey a certain message through your architecture. For example, the invisible concrete block might serve to create an illusion within a wall or act as an interactive three-dimensional building feature — where its chameleon abilities might be just the thing needed to create a certain lightness, transient ability and ethereal effect for a space at a particular time of day.

In the end, it is most important that you see building materials for what they are at face value, but also to never stop searching for more on what they can become. As a painter paints with paint, architects often “paint” with materials. As you watch the following video, ask yourself just how creative you can be with your materials — even with the most mundane of ones.

To get you thinking, here is the video of the invisible concrete block exhibit and how it works:

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by “tweeting” and “sharing” it using the buttons at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: plantronicsgermany | Flickr

As people travel through the world today, they experience many dimensions to the spaces they encounter. Whether within a building, or when exploring a city, people are navigating with the help of things like cars, handheld instruments like smart phones, cameras, books or various map-like devices. However, one thing is for sure…

New technology often leads to realizing new ways of designing spaces with a “sense of place” — and that is something you should be keenly aware of as an architect.

When a certain building radiates this “sense of place”, it often can lift occupants to higher levels where greater learning, spirituality and a sense of well-being can be achieved. And it is no secret that many places have exuded this “sense of place” in both timeless and universal fashions — well before certain state-of-the-art technologies that we see today ever existed. But, I do ask…what happens when new technologies find their way into architecture? Do they enhance or detract from it as they augment its very being?

That, furthermore, leads me to ask…”What does “sense of place” mean today? And with all of the new and rapidly developing technologies being literally carried around by occupants all over the world, how does this re-preset, re-define and re-introduce people to the built environment which surrounds them?

Including Augmented Reality Technology to Exude a “Sense of Place”

When I can walk down the street and “see” to form an impression of a building, using my smart phone for example, I am often given a preview (whether it be accurate or not) of what an architectural “place” might have in store. But then the question really becomes… Is this sort of augmented reality really enhancing that buildings’ ability to lift me to that higher-level I spoke about earlier? And what happens once I bring that augmented reality with me once I step inside?

In other words, does augmented reality help a building when it is an accidental after-thought? Or when it was well pre-conceived and designed by an architect to help that building to teach me, spiritually lift me, or guide me to have a better sense of well-being?

So, take a moment to consider how the widespread use of augmented reality technologies will impact your building, and its occupants. Ask yourself how such devices can contribute to your building’s message and its ability to convey that message. After all, not only do buildings exist in the moment as an occupant physiologically experiences them through their body’s senses, but they also exist well before (and after) that occupant ever steps foot inside.

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by “tweeting” and “sharing” it using the buttons at the beginning of this page.

* This idea for this article was inspired by: A Sense of Place: A World of Augmented Reality

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: shadows44 | Flickr

It is undeniable that mobile phones with operating systems that get updated frequently are becoming more widespread globally. In fact, phones like the iPhone are helping people with a variety of tasks ranging from keeping track of their health and finances, all the way to realizing new types of face-to-face communication, social media and now 3-D video — see the new Samsung W960 phone here.

The introduction of 3-D into the world of mobile gadgets makes me think of what might happen when these “gadgets” are being carried around by occupants within architectural designs which include office buildings, museums, schools and even hospitals. Is there any reason why you as an architect should ignore such devices and what they can do to help your architectural designs? Think mobile augmented reality here.

Such mobile devices can be not only a great way to pool information about your occupant(s) “status” within your building, but can also serve to help you design new adaptive systems within your building in entirely new ways. Just imagine the more personalized experience and better collective effect your architecture can give them.

Here’s a quick example:

In much the same way as you might design a large architectural design element in one place, and then indirectly refer to it through your design within a smaller element somewhere else, you could design a 3-D video or hologram visible to occupants that might carry their mobile device to certain parts of your building to augment what they experience there. Yes, this can bring signage and wayfinding to a whole new level.

Beyond Typical Building Signage and Wayfinding

When I think of this, I think of more than just creating a 3-D map that your occupants might carry around to help give them a sense of where they are, or they are going, within your designed space. Instead, I think of an augmented reality type experience where the 3-D virtual meets 3-D real-world space. It’s as if your occupant were carrying around a 3-D flashlight, but instead of simply illuminating light to see where they are walking — it would act as a 3-D fully colored “model” that changed dynamically with each experience they had, helping them along the way.

With this, might you create a new kind of architectural narrative for your occupant? Giving them hints of what is just around the corner through their personalized and mobile handheld 3-D virtual world? Or might you let them take home a personalized montage of different “elements” that made up their experience within your architecture — not to be too cliche, but kind of like a transient “souvenir”? Or better yet, a 3-D “memory” derived from a real-life experience from within your architectural space.

This is just some food for thought to get you thinking about emerging technologies in a new way. Think about how you might be able to use them to your advantage as you develop experiences for your occupants within your building spaces. If you have not seen it yet, here is a look at the new Samsung W960 mobile 3-D technology by Dynamic Digital Depth:

Please Tell Me What You Think

I would really like to get your feedback on my post today, so please leave me a comment in the form below. And if you enjoyed it, make sure you share it with your Twitter and Facebook followers by “tweeting” and “sharing” it using the buttons at the beginning of this page.

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: jericho1ne | Flickr

Augmented reality and other virtual digital displays can revolutionize they way we interact within architectural spaces. When sitting in your office, experiencing a museum or simply learning in school, occupants already use digital media to carry out even the most basic of tasks. Just imagine what the evolution of augmented reality can do.

For starters, we can now see the beginning to how buildings can evolve internal “nervous systems”. Designers are beginning to think of “connections” in whole new ways.

Not only can spaces become less “local”, they can gain even greater dimension as real-time information gets processed through the building to provide visitors with a broader sense of where they are and what they can do.

YOU ARE THE BAROMETER

Similar to the glass evolution in architecture, real-time virtual “models” of information are making space less limited. Space is gaining transient abilities. It is becoming less static and more in tune with what its occupants really need and want.

Architects will need to act as the barometer for these augmented reality spaces — so virtual information can integrate and work with architectural form.

The key is to bring all of these emerging technologies back to the essence of human comfort: health, safety, happiness, productivity and so on. Without targeting the most basic of human needs, everything else could fall by the wayside.

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

BRINGING SHADOWS TO LIFE

Here is an excellent example of how you can use interactive architecture and augmented reality to really give “feeling” to occupant interactions. As different “spaces” made with hand gestures result in different sounds, lighting and motion effects — users get a unique sense of how their gestures can interact with space. You can see how mere “shadows” take on a physical presence with weight, gravity and material bounce qualities. Plus, it looks like it would be fun to use.

MOLDING LIGHT AND SOUND ON THE FLY

This augmented reality design actually uses both analog and digital projectors by aligning and overlapping their projections. By creating a fusion between the two, user hand gestures actually become a part of the dynamic display — both positive and negative versions of user hand motions are captured and integrated.

This has great potential because it not only incorporates an occupant’s movement through space but also attempts to communicate back to the user with specific reactions to their hand “language” — giving literal and figurative “weight” to what their hands “say” through signals.

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF BEHAVIOR

By applying different properties to these so-called “shadows”, hand gestures actually create new behaviors that relate to how we perceptually experience the real-world. Perhaps further applications with this type of augmented reality can push the boundaries of our senses — where such “shadows” can become a more useful architectural design language all their own , perhaps playing with certain rules that we all take for granted (like gravity).

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman

Image: Chernetskiy | Dreamstime

Architecture is getting better at connecting — linking you to more environments, information and people all over the world. Augmented reality is a big reason why.

You see, technologies that cater to augmented reality will act as ‘portals’ that link you to information, communities and destinations in real-time. Such advances are changing the way you experience architecture, both aesthetically and functionally.

Now, here’s what I’ve been thinking…

Augmented reality is likely to have a major impact on buildings as more and more technologies surface. Virtual reality can help us do things better and help us enjoy the act of getting them done. Here are the top five reasons why I think augmented reality will really be able to help buildings (and, thus, the people that inhabit them):

1) EXPLORE:
As virtual reality technologies are able to bridge the gap by getting rid of distance, building occupants will be able to virtually travel to far-away lands. Just imagine seeing, hearing, smelling (and, yes, tasting and touching) some of the wonders that make a culture what it is.

For example, technologies found within our buildings will be able to transport us back in time to re-creations that help us learn more about history. Architectural environments may not be limited to a real set of geographical coordinates – virtual traveling within buildings will turn them into a sort of augmented reality “transportation vessel”.

2) RELAX:
Offices or any other place where you may want to de-stress will be able to treat your senses with stimuli that are relaxing to you. It’s like your “nature sounds” alarm clock; but, in its ultimate form.

Suddenly, your office has “relaxation’ settings –- augmenting your workday by relaxing you and making you more efficient. Augmented reality will be able to bring you the best from both “worlds”.

Eventually, homes will have virtual reality technologies embedded within them too. These will be able to help you; for example, by assisting with your healthcare, exercise regiment, or even your diet — all of which will help you de-stress and live healthier.

3) LEARN:
Think of a surgeon performing a complex procedure. Already, technologies exist to augment the surgeon’s tasks. For instance, a three-dimensional display of an identical and virtual model procedure can assist the surgeon as he or she performs. Thus, buildings become more efficient for those performing complex tasks as virtual models can help guide performance in real-time.

Similarly, museums can make use of such augmented reality technologies. As museum visitors explore an exhibit, technologies can teach via augmented reality to help them learn the exhibit’s core messages.

4) SOCIALIZE:
Augmented reality will be a great way to visit with your family and friends, or attend a business meeting. Already we use telephones, video-conferencing and other forms of communication to do some of this. But, imagine what will happen when buildings get more virtual reality capabilities. It might be possible to share a taste, a scent or even a virtual handshake or hug.

5) PLAY:
Yes, video games today really do make use of virtual reality. Role play games, like Second Life, are prime examples of what can be done in virtual worlds.

However, I imagine that a new breed of architectural “rooms” will be designed as augmented reality becomes more mainstream. Just think, a new sort of “game room” or an interactive “movie room”. Playing will be seamlessly more physically interactive.

Really, the possibilities are endless …

HAVE YOU HEARD OF “HETERARCHITECTURE”?

To continue exploring this topic, I suggest that you read the book Disappearing Architecture. It is fascinating because it discusses the coined term: ‘heterarchitecture’; where real space and virtual space are “literally superimposed” — so much that architecture will “obey rules of quantum mechanics rather than classical physics. I find this notion to be quite interesting (especially when you read about all of the implications.)

Disappearing Architecture contains great writings by authors William J. Mitchell, Georg Flachbart, Peter Weibel, Kas Oosterhuis and many more. This is definitely worth a read.

Here is the link: Disappearing Architecture: From Real to Virtual to Quantum

© 2008-2010 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman