ambientROOM: Integrating Ambient Media with Architectural Space

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ambientROOM Integrating Ambient Mediawith
Architectural Space

• By Zubin Singh
• INF 131

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This paper presents

• Presents the design of the ambientROOM
• interface to information for processing in the
  background of awareness
• This info. displayed through various subtle
  displays of light, sound, and movement.

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Why do we need a ambientRoom?

• most computer interfaces fail to take advantage
  of our background processing capabilities.
• (GUIs) demand constant foreground visual
  attention, as multiple information streams
  compete for screen space
• keyboards and mice must be actively manipulated
  to be useful

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So how does an ambient room work?

• An ambient room displays information through
  subtle cues of sound, light, or motion
• Many of these ambient media displays are
  inspired by natural phenomena such as wind,
  sunlight, or the sounds of a rainforest

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So how does an ambient room work? (contd.)

• ambientROOM uses graspable objects such as
  bottles to provide control of the ambient media
• Some quick videos (start 01.15)
• http//youtube.com/watch?vGhobBh30wTM
• Dino The ambient egg
• http//youtube.com/watch?vAvST9wjrkC4

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Ambient Room Overview
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Most interesting ambient media displays discussed

• Water Ripples
• One display allows the user to have some
  awareness of the activity of a distant loved one.
• -Works by having a motorized phicon (physical
  icon) configured to vibrate as action is made
• This action transfers the vibration to the
  motion of a solenoid in a shallow water tank.
• A lamp reflecting off of the water then produces
  rippling shadows on the ceiling.

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Most interesting ambient media displays discussed
(contd.)

• Natural Soundscapes
• This display explores a multi-modal approach to
  ambient displays, including the communication of
  information through sound.
• The ambientROOM contains a subtle but audible
  soundtrack of birds and rainfall, whose sound
  volume and density are modulated in conjunction
  with variations in room lighting.

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Most interesting graspable media controls
discussed

• Bottle
• A small glass bottle is employed as a graspable
  container for digital content, such that
  uncorking the bottle releasesinformation into
  the room.
• In this case, the load on the computer network
  was instantiated as the sound of vehicular
  traffic.

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Most interesting graspable media controls
discussed (contd.)

• Clock
• A second activity control, a large wall-mounted
  clock with exposed hands, allows navigation
  through temporal events.
• The ambientROOM clock serves as a controller as
  well.
• Manual rotation of the clocks hands prompt the
  ambientROOMs displays to shift to their former
  or future states.
• Meanwhile, data including the actual time are
  projected onto the clocks face.

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The future of Ambient environments (goals)

• environment would recognize individuals and some
  of their needs and wants, as well as changes in
  individuals, changes in needs and wants, and
  changes in the environment
• Ambient intelligence is how to make technology
  learn about the people and their identity
  habits, preferences, behavioral patterns, etc.
  and how to apply such knowledge in varying
  contexts.
• Such situational awareness should be promoted
  simultaneously securing a sufficient degree of
  privacy and prevention against misuse. The more
  complex the systems become, the more vulnerable
  they are to malfunction.

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Any Questions?