4,264 research outputs found
Mixed Reality Architecture: a dynamic architectural topology
Architecture can be shown to structure patterns of co-presence and in turn to be
structured itself by the rules and norms of the society present within it. This two-way
relationship exists in a surprisingly stable framework, as fundamental changes to
buildings are slow and costly. At the same time, change within organisations is
increasingly rapid and buildings are used to accommodate some of that change. This
adaptation can be supported by the use of telecommunication technologies, overcoming
the need for co-presence during social interaction. However, often this results in a loss
of accountability or âcivic legibilityâ, as the link between physical location and social
activity is broken. In response to these considerations, Mixed Reality Architecture
(MRA) was developed. MRA links multiple physical spaces across a shared 3D virtual
world. We report on the design of MRA, including the key concept of the Mixed Reality
Architectural Cell, a novel architectural interface between architectural spaces that are
remote to each other. An in-depth study lasting one year and involving six office-based
MRACells, used video recordings, the analysis of event logs, diaries and an interview
survey. This produced a series of ethnographic vignettes describing social interaction
within MRA in detail. In this paper we concentrate on the topological properties of MRA.
It can be shown that the dynamic topology of MRA and social interaction taking place
within it are fundamentally intertwined. We discuss how topological adjacencies across
virtual space change the integration of the architectural spaces that MRA is installed in.
We further reflect on how the placement of MRA technology in different parts of an
office space (deep or shallow) impacts on the nature of that particular space. Both the
above can be shown to influence movement through the building and social interaction
taking place within it. These findings are directly relevant to new buildings that need to
be designed to accommodate organisational change in future but also to existing
building stock that might be very hard to adapt. We are currently expanding the system
to new sites and are planning changes to the infrastructure of MRA as well as its
interactional interface
Mixed Reality Architecture: Concept, Construction, Use
Mixed Reality Architecture (MRA) dynamically links and overlays physical and virtual spaces. This paper investigates the topology of and the relationships between the components of MRA. As a phenomenon, MRA takes its place in a long history of technologies that have influenced conditions for social interaction as well as the environment we build around us. However, by providing a flexible spatial topology spanning physical and virtual environments it presents new opportunities for social interaction across electronic media. An experimental MRA is described that allowed us to study some of the emerging issues in this field. It provided material for the development of a framework describing virtual and physical spaces, the links between those and the types of mixed reality structure that we can envisage it being possible to design using these elements. We propose that by re-introducing a level of spatiality into communication across physical and virtual environments MRA will support everyday social interaction, and may convert digital communication media from being socially conservative to a more generative form familiar from physical space
Good-Bye, Dixie Dear
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/4911/thumbnail.jp
Augmented reality meeting table: a novel multi-user interface for architectural design
Immersive virtual environments have received widespread attention as providing possible replacements for the media and systems that designers traditionally use, as well as, more generally, in providing support for collaborative work. Relatively little attention has been given to date however to the problem of how to merge immersive virtual environments into real world work settings, and so to add to the media at the disposal of the designer and the design team, rather than to replace it. In this paper we report on a research project in which optical see-through augmented reality displays have been developed together with prototype decision support software for architectural and urban design. We suggest that a critical characteristic of multi user augmented reality is its ability to generate visualisations from a first person perspective in which the scale of rendition of the design model follows many of the conventions that designers are used to. Different scales of model appear to allow designers to focus on different aspects of the design under consideration. Augmenting the scene with simulations of pedestrian movement appears to assist both in scale recognition, and in moving from a first person to a third person understanding of the design. This research project is funded by the European Commission IST program (IST-2000-28559)
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