A presentation from 2001 for the Interactive Media in Public spaces module for the MA in Interactive Media at the University of Limerick. https://kierannolan.com

1. Public (Transport) Space
Kieran Nolan – May 2002 – MA in Interactive Media, University of Limerick
kierannolan.com

2. Thought process…
On the bus...
Started thinking about the time I spend on them
Dublin to Virginia (mon-fri for 6 months)
80km x 2 x 5 x 4 x 6 = 19,200kms
6hrs x 5 x 4 x 6 = 720 hrs = 30 days

3. Bus as a public space
Unwritten etiquette of public transport:
. People generally keep to themselves
. Contemplation
. Isolation

4. Modular Bus
Private space (car)
Becoming part of a
public communal
space (bus)

5. Circular Bus
Seating in a circular
arrangement

6. Use multimedia technology to
somehow free up the
confined, caged passenger
into a virtual environment for
the commute...
Social
Or
Escapist

7. Use of video games on aircrafts
Applying ideas from this onto buses
but also using it to reconnect the
isolated commuter or to help people
on the same bus communicate.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/premium_economy_inflight_entertainment.view.do

8. Terminals
. Allowing a view out all windows
. Access to relevant info (walled garden)
. Access email
. Info on bus services
. News service
. Multiplayer games
. Views out the bus from several camera angles

9. VR on the bus
. Visual/auditory immersion into a vr world
. Virtual Theatre
. Sudden switch of environments could be disorientating

10. Screens and control devices
53 seats in a standard coach
Problems: Cost from maintenance
Bus vandalism

11. Literacy
. Arguments against constant television
. Bus an environment best suited to reading
Listening to a walkman on a bus
= sound of bus engine
+ traffic outside
+ plus walkman cranked up to high volume
= deafness

12. Network access point:
Provide network access points that
the user could plug a p.d.a. or next
gen mobile device into
Provide an e-book service purchase
service on the bus… buy e-book by
entering mobile phone number, the
book is then downloaded onto the
phone/mobile device and cost entered
into the users phone bill.

13. War Driving:
wireless network providers e.g. http://www.free2air.org
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/8/17976.html
http://www.consume.net

14. Bus fleet could act as mobile nodes for wireless network
Bus stops and shelters would act as transmitters
People transport network becomes people and data
transport network
Mobile data, giving greater mobility to our thoughts

15. Pin Art on a large scale

16. Starting point:
Staring at the buildings on the
UL campus

17. What I noticed:
. Big walls
. Glass
. Bricks!

18. “Pin Art is big time fun! Pin Art
will help you make countless
patterns instead of working.
Spell your name or imprint your
nose. Heck, you can even
imprint someone else's nose
(always get approval prior to
imprinting other noses). The Pin
Art is a long established classic
desk toy. Are you ready for
stress free amusement? Come
and get it.”
http://www.officeplayground.com/opg/pinart.html

19. Satisfaction from reshaping objects in three
dimensional space
. Tactile feedback
. “feels constructive”

20. Pin Art on a giant scale
Pins would be mirrored by the movement of giant
pillars (either holographic or physical) on the side of
a building or even floating in the air.

21. 3d holographs
Rebuilding of the Bamiyan Buddhas
http://www.lightwatcher.com/home/articles_lightbyte/rebuilding_buddha.html
http://www.new7wonders.org/e/press.html

22. Holograms
Pros
. Cost effective (compared to hydraulics)
. Easy to modify output
Cons
. Dependent on lighting conditions
. only be possible at night
http://www.laser-magic.com/holographicprojection.html

23. Hydraulics
Pros
. Tangible
Cons
. Expensive
. Part of building rather
than an add on
http://www.laser-magic.com/holographicprojection.html

24. Perhaps the whole building could be rearranged
instead of just a side wall
(though might cause discomfort to the occupants)