1.the cloud
interactive fiber being
Florence, Italy. June 2008
An organic sculptural landmark that responds to human interaction and expresses context awareness using hundreds of sensors and over 15,000 individually addressable optical fibers. Constructed of carbon glass, spanning over four meters, and containing more than 65 kilometers of fiber optics, the Cloud encourages visitors to touch and interact with information in new ways, manifesting emotions and behavior through sound and a dichotomy of luminescence and darkness.
Features
The cloud is capable of detecting presence and engaging with users through its multi-fiber touch interface. Tactile engagement with the individual fibers provokes a variety of responses from the cloud, ranging from ambient lighting to animation and sound. The cloud’s open-source development platform encourages users to contribute to a growing library of creative interactions that will stretch the limits of the imagination.
Technology
Mixing a powerful light source with the beauty of fiber optics, the Cloud is made with more than 15,000 individually addressable fibers. Each fiber represents a pixel that can be touched, modified, or moved in a physical way.
The cloud is equipped with 20 proximity sensors that cover the entire object. It can detect if someone is near the object, but also the direction they move, if they go to the back of the object, if they are walking around, etc. Three-quarters of the Cloud are covered with touch sensors for precise touch-area tracking. Besides that, the Cloud is equipped with two cameras and microphones for long range detections.
Located in downtown Florence outside the Fortezza da Basso. the Cloud is part of the “Redesigning Fashion Trade Shows” project that Pitti Immagine launched with MIT Mobile Experience Lab in January 2007. It is a long-term project that will creatively rethink the trade show concept and will propose innovative technologies, perspectives and sensory experiences for fashion trade shows.
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