Pasts & Presents

In which the activity in the cafe, both current and in the past, is used to create an abstract dynamic map of the space, which is projected on the wall.

Judith Donath and the Sociable Media Group, MIT Media Lab

& Martin Wattenberg

introduction

Past and Present is a visualization of activity in the cafe, both current and in the past. The visualization is shown on a large projection screen in the cafe. It is an abstract, animated image in which the movements of the elements are shaped by the actions of the people in the cafe. The topology underlying the animation is the space of the cafe, and as people move through it, occupy a space for a long time, order drinks, etc. they reshape that topology and thus the patterns of the animation. It is an abstract visualization in much the same way that ripples on a pond are a visualization of activity on and near the surface of the water. copyright Andrew Davidhazy

This project will allow people in the cafe to see both present and past activity in the space. Because the visualization is an abstract animation, it will not be immediately obvious that it is in fact a sort of map of the cafe. And, if one never figures it out, it is designed to still be appreciated as a beautiful design. But because it reacts immediately to activity in the cafe, most observers will soon realize that action in the physical space affects the image. When someone walks across the space, the animated swirls and shapes are also perturbed on the screen. Observers will also figure out that by moving around they can find themselves on the screen - not as an object, but as a topographic force affecting the moving objects.
 

implementation

 

The key systems that make up this project are the sensors, the topology database, the agent simulation, the animation engine, and the display.

The sensors take in data from the cafe. Depending on how we wish to interact with other projects, the layout of the cafe, and the amount of space allocated to this project, there are a number of options for these:

  • Cameras mounted in the ceiling can track motion; infra-red cameras can also help us find people and hot and cold food and drinks.
  • Microphones (with clearly marked off switches) can be mounted above tables, near cashier, etc. Input from these can go to the animation or to a soundtrack.
  • Pressure sensors in chairs, floor can track movement and presence.
  

The topology database keeps track of where there is and has been presence and activity. The area of the cafe is divided into small sectors and each sector keeps track of both current state and historical events (motion in sector, length of presence, heat and cold, etc.)

   
The agent simulator controls the behavior of a population of mobile agents. The simulation consists of a large number of simple agents with simple behaviors that are affected by their immediate environment and each other. Their environment is defined by the topology database. Some primarily respond to specific events in the environment, others have a simple behavior that is affected by it. For instance, one type of agent might be drawn to the location of current movement, if it can "sense" it from its current location. Upon sensing movement, such agents may become more energized and move toward the sensed movement. Other agents may be programmed to flee from the first type of agent. Thus, the motion of a person walking through the cafe will cause activity among the agents in the relevant and neighboring areas of the visualization. Longer term actions, such as the toal amount of tie a chair has been occupied, etc. also affect the agents, by making certain spaces more or less attractive to them or by changing how they can move across them. The agents are dynamic - they are in constant motion. When there is no current activity in the cafe, they are still moving about, though their motion is then random.

The animation engine depicts the movement of these agents. Unlike typical renderings of simulations, however, the depiction of these agents is very painterly - they are colored shapes that swirl, that grow and shrink, and that move gracefully and expressively across the screen.

The display is a projector and screen.