An amazing new prototype called Siftables, developed at the MIT media Lab, merges the worlds of digital media and physical interfaces. The main idea behind them is to get virtual information into your hands (literally) by using a “block-like” natural interface that transcends beyond our prototypical mouse and keyboards. Siftables are designed to be more in tune with the way we actually navigate through the world.
Each Siftable is about the size of a “cookie” that works and feels like you are, in fact, playing with toy blocks. Each block can sense the others as they are moved around and tilted by their user. Essentially, this allows for a type of collaboration between the Siftables so they can work individually and together within their group’s system.
To see Siftables for yourself, simply watch the following video and imagine how Read more
Image: Norebbo | Dreamstime
We all know that computer technology has done a lot to advance not only the way the design process can work, but also to improve the constructed outcome of that design process.
That’s why I think it’s important to shed some light on what “aural renderings” can do. (1) You, as an architect, can actually listen to a designed space as built to the parameters of your three dimensional CAD model. Here is a detailed description of the process that goes into creating such an aural rendering: Read more
“HOW WILL THAT SOUND?”
Architectural acoustics are an important part of architectural design. Architects should be asking themselves “how will that sound?” throughout the design process. That is why the tool “LISTEN” has potential to positively impact the architectural design process. By allowing architects to analyze and trial listen to environments, built works can be aurally simulated to hear how they would sound in reality.
BUILDING AN AURAL 3D MODEL
The aural simulation project called “LISTEN” is a simulation for the design of aural environments. By using this tool, architects would be able to Read more
