It is no longer virtual
People’s notion of physical surroundings have changed drastically over the years due to the advancement of network technology and computation. For example, the computer in our generation is becoming more deeply integrated with our environment and is arguably, one of the most intuitive communication tools for connecting people all around the world. In many ways the new relationship between human and technological environment have not only influenced people’s everyday practices in space, but also blurred the boundary between the virtual and the physical world.
The main focus of this project is to understand the emerging contexts in today’s cultural environment that is inextricably interlinked with technology. In the traditional sense, the practice of producing metaphors in space was primarily driven by the memories that tie us to that place. However, in contemporary culture, the way in which people engage with their surroundings have become remarkably complex. For instance, even media forms that use one of the most simple technologies, such as LED traffic signal lights, literally shapes the whole traffic flow of a city. Also, by using more advanced technology, such as a sensor network, there have been numerous explorations of creating systems that transfigure digital information into physical form or vise versa. For instance, Nike+ enables users to achieve interactive experience both in the digital environment and the physical world. In the same context, for decades, people have been deeply interested in creating technologies that would enable people to intuitively respond and interact with space, and as a result, produced various research projects to explore technical infrastructure of ubiquitous computing. As technology progresses, people become increasingly aware of their physical surroundings not only through the collectable memories of architectural experiences, but also through the digital experiences that take place in the tangible environment.
This being the case, to fully understand the meaning of today and tomorrow’s technological environment, it is necessary to investigate the changing boundaries of virtuality and the meaning of spatial relations. The point is to develop a design approach that would lead to imaginative speculation regarding the space between simulated reality, the impossible, and actuality. To achieve this, the project will focus on designing a chain of events between physical objects and digital elements. This design practice will deal with the idea of simulated causality and provide new modes of interactive experiences to the user. The goal of this project is to learn how technological environment could shape and transform human action and even aesthetic practice in public or private space, to indicate pathways for further research.
