Yulianquan | Dreamstime

Libraries have been undergoing the need for a facelift ever since the introduction of the computing revolution. This type of institution is providing for more than simply the borrowing of books. New functions are defining how libraries serve their communities as they continue to emerge. Computer terminals with internet access and digital book inventory access are quickly becoming things of the past as even newer library programs surface. Libraries are evolving and surrounding communities are benefiting.

Nowadays, libraries are focusing on youth as they continue to refine their market beyond information sharing. Cutting-edge libraries are fostering fun activities that provide place for youth to go – a hang-out of sorts. According to the article Libraries Tap Pop Culture to Reach Teenagers in the Boston Globe, libraries are becoming a place where kids can go to do homework, check email, hang out or even play Wii. Thus, library design becomes more than an institution for sharing information. It is evolving more and more by integrating latest technologies to interact with surrounding community culture.

Hopefully, by targeting youth, libraries are becoming fun places that foster a learning culture. Some programs discussed in the article involve origami workshops and gingerbread house making. Perhaps libraries will be able to make information sharing a more interactive, hands on experience.

It is nice to see how libraries are finding there place in modern-day society. With the advent of the internet, libraries were thought by some to eventually disappear as they were predicted to fade into the background. How do you think libraries will continue to evolve? Will they continue to cater to information sharing by hosting more and more computer terminals and interactive applications? …or will libraries evolve into community center type schools where learning is the key function? Perhaps the merger of the two scenarios is best.

It is my hope that libraries continue to evolve, finding their own proper place in community and society. Perhaps as new technologies unfold, libraries may specialize in a type of data mining where information is not only available but can be intelligently searched and sorted for users. As the quantity of information grows and grows, libraries may find their niche by continuing as research and learning centers that integrate advanced technologies.

There is no doubt that libraries can be fun learning centers. As technology continues to integrate into library functions, we will most likely see new and creative way to research, learn and interact within a community. Undoubtedly, libraries will continue to find their path as societies and communities advance. The key is for libraries to not shut out developing technologies. As a whole, this institution type must embrace them as they target youth and adults alike.

Finding purpose in going to a library is crucial. Social interaction in learning is great for all ages and research assistance makes for meaningful practice. Libraries as social, research and learning institutions will continue onward. We just have to convince financial stakeholders to update them for modern-day and future use. Yes, libraries can continue to be social learning community hubs. They just have to know how to embrace change through their design as they grow evermore technologically interactive.

Dusipuffi | Dreamstime

You may have heard of it — Visualizing Information, a field that represents information, living or static, to uncover, highlight or focus on meaning often made elusive by data. Needless to say, such ways of seeing information are often persuasive, as data re-presents itself in more tangible form.

What if we could tell what is happening inside a building simply by looking at its exterior facade? With such techniques architects could embed new ways of seeing information into the architecture itself. What about residential architecture? Here we may see our diet information fused with our exercise routine in daily graphic forms. In this new light, we might just get the kick in the pants we need to continue to lose weight or maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Visualizing information is an emerging field where selected information is presented anew, often in graphic or sculptural appearance. Such information may also take on more of a living presence where it is updated in real-time making information come to life. In the end, such data may result in behavior that leaves a one dimensional world to perpetually evolve before our eyes.

Some may say that creating visual displays of information is both an art and a science. It takes that special ability to interpret, align and focus just the right segments of data. Visual information may take on emotional, political, health or even humorous angles and causes. This type of designer conveys informational meaning that may otherwise be taken for granted or misunderstood.

How might visualizing information help occupant’s lives within architecture? As the world moves ever-closer to ubiquitous computing might architecture everywhere start to embed such displays for occupant use? Visualizing information is important as we enter the age of “sensemaking”. We are currently becoming more and more inundated by data. The goal as we progress forward will be to decipher information, finding meaning in the heap, in order to influence our lives in helpful ways.

How might visualizing information impact the process of architectural design? As architects and design professionals, the ability to see data in different lights will also help with the design process of buildings. Just imagine if you could visualize and forecast certain complex programmatic issues on the fly. Also, architects may find new ways to visualize information for ongoing projects either during design or construction. Such information techniques may also make abstract or rapidly changing information more tangible for clients.

In the end, newfound ways to visualize information are most important and useful. When executed correctly, such displays can be quite powerful and even persuasive. Within architecture, buildings can reach even higher functionality as carefully selected data displays communicate with occupants, assisting them in their daily lives. Visualizing information is becoming an everyday occurrence; yet still, there are some displays that leave you speechless.

Today we have what you might refer to as information overload. We have information coming in from every angle. And because of this, the Institute for the Future states that we will eventually enter an age of “sensemaking”. It is interesting to think of how this will apply to architecture.

In my opinion, I think that architecture should be at the cutting edge of this era. Architecture could make use of incoming information, via sensors and rule-based systems. It could interact with its occupants through architecture technology that is programmed to assemble information for the public good. In doing so, more meaningful connections would take place between people and their surroundings.

Perhaps architecture could find new ways to influence occupant behavior. For example, a person might be persuaded to wait before their walk home based on heartbeat, medical history and a short predicted rainfall. Architecture could tie information together to form smart assumptions that inform occupants that might otherwise not know.

But how would architecture convey this meaning? Perhaps visualizations, sounds and other augmented reality features could work together to convey meaningful messages. Some would be simple to convey, while others would need more sophisticated synchronization. In the age of “sensemaking”, architecture would become dynamic in its behavior and aesthetically beautiful in its evolving and helpful forms.