CyberParks and geoaesthetics : reading modern technology after Nietzsche

Although Nietzsche never mentioned the term geophilosophy or geoaesthetics, from his work emanates a thought connected to the Earth, and to a new direction for the Earth, in order to achieve the Übermensch. Geoaesthetics is assumed as the latent purpose of Nietzschean geophilosophy, aiming to build the world from the artist’s figure. And all can be artists, when thinking and constructing, critically and creatively, one direction to Earth (Sinn der Erde). This construction presupposes a Menschen-Erde, that is, a planetarian humanity – that might be attained communally through new medial practices. Now, with the expansion of territories through technics, construction isn’t exclusive to real space, but also concerns virtual or outer space architectures. This is an attempt to read the notion of CyberParks through Nietzschean perspective and regards the implementation of land art and site-specfic art projects as further developments of a CyberPark.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Simulating bodily movement as an agent for the reactivation of forgotten open air spaces in the city

This paper presents experimental work that uses immersive technologies for engaging users and local communities in the design process of architectural interventions on historic, fragmented environments in an effort to re-activate the place under study. In addition to the use of cutting-edge methods of capturing and analysing on-site information, this research framework, implemented in the on-going study of Paphos Gate area of historic Nicosia which lies on the infamous Green Line that still divides the city, explores the potential of narrative-led visualization to enable personal interpretations of space and its history. This virtual environment hosts reconstructions of the Paphos Gate neighbourhood which were produced based on archival material and via 3D data acquisition (LiDAR, UAV and terrain Structure-from-Motion techniques), in order to explore the associations between the transformation of the monument through the years – from its construction to present day – and the bodily experience of the visitors sojourning in its surrounding part of the city. The vision of this research is to develop a digital platform which through immersion, cinematic language and storytelling will enable the evaluation of alternative scenarios and design interventions in the context of the management plan of forgotten open air spaces that used to be popular within their urban fabric.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Evaluating smart city learning

Measurement and analysis of individually interpreted learning experiences can build a knowledge picture of how learners perceive immersive technology-mediated learning in smart cities. Comparison of these learning experiences, with theoretical factors derived from relevant literature, may then shed light on the usefulness of theory in practical learning design and approaches to the evaluation of immersive learning environments analysed from a theoretical basis. In turn, this may contribute to current approaches of urban smart city environment planning for citizen engaged ‘human smart cities’ [14]. Mobile learning location-based prototypes will be developed with subject experts and implemented in open (urban) spaces located at Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta for history and Argotti Gardens, Floriana for botany. This paper discusses potential methodologies for designing a measurement of the effectiveness of these learning experiences and associated learning design for immersive urban learning environments mediated by mobile and networked technologies. Acknowledging the hybrid nature [9] of smart city learning, interactions between digital tools, content and community, measuring both intra- and inter-learner experiences is anticipated. Identifying and quantifying these dimensions of interactions will help us understand more about how urban smart learning activities create immersive experiences for each learner, engaging them in a variety of internal cognitive and social processes. To clarify mutual interaction between theoretical and empirical factors, a system of theoretical factors of significance is proposed to be developed, and then correlated, with learning experience analysis factors. A brief review of hybrid learning environment research, including ubiquitous learning [4] manifested in hybrid [9], mobile [8] and smart city [2] environments, provides context for how analytical methodology might be applied to an interactive learning system in smart cities. Phenomenographic techniques of variation and outcome space are investigated, together with the Dialogic Space concept [30] of conversation interaction for analysing dialogues.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Public spaces as evolving frameworks : applying principles of co-creation in urban planning

There is a growing body of literature that recognises the advantages of collective human actions in various contexts. People can have more insights and social experiences when they collaborate in groups and can achieve better results than any single individual. In this paper, we argue that co-creation can be used in urban planning by treating citizens as active, creative, decision-making equals rather than passive recipients of top-down design. Rather than asking for citizen commentary on already set initiatives, collaborative techniques view city populations as agents of positive change, giving communities tools of direct involvement in outlining their needs and priorities, collaboratively finding solutions, influencing decisions and achieving better outcomes. The focus of this article is the creation of a typology of citizen engagement strategies in urban planning, which sheds light on broader issues around the relationship between technology, urban development and public participation. By exploring and critically assessing case studies of citizen co-creation in the city context, we attempt to show how citizen engagement can lead to construction and redefinition of public spaces.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Review and critical assessment on the interaction of urban spaces and technology : the case of the urban road

The road traditionally accommodated traffic but also leisure activities, social activities and even work. However, technology has dynamically entered our lives, enabling us to replicate activities in public that used to be private. It is considered that the lines between public space and private territory, human interaction and human alienation are becoming more and more blurred. The more interaction between digital and physical environments is increasing, the more our cities are changing. This paper intends to explore how urbanisation and spatial hierarchies are redefined by technological transitions. The first part of this research is a literature review, on the studies that concern the interrelation among three key components: people, space and ICT. The second part of this research highlights the proven consequences of technological progress in the shape and structure of the city by studying the evolution and interaction of the urban road and transport technologies (automobiles, highways). This research aims to map the current knowledge concerning the interaction between people, public space and ICT.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

The contribution of ICT in planning of public open spaces : reflections on the city of Lisbon

The research reported in this paper is supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action: CYBERPARKS - Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness (COST Action TU1306).This paper discusses the importance of open public spaces, and how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can enhance the understanding of the relationship between spaces and their users, towards the production of inclusive and cohesive urban spaces. The analysis is built on the Project CyberParks, which aims to increase the knowledge about this challenging relationship. Through this, we intend to analyse how these digital forms of communication can help planners improve public open spaces, based on the study case of Lisbon. The growth of our cities, throughout history, has always been linked to the public space, and how it was built. Its function was constantly changing, according to the needs that were appearing at different times. However, these transformations were being made with one goal, that of adapting public spaces to their users. What currently occurs is almost an extension of the existing public spaces, by the appearance of enclosed public spaces, for example. And we have some theories that suggest the Internet as a public space. Nowadays, the use of new technologies is becoming a reality. It is already possible to find public places with free Internet access, often providing an attraction for tourists. It is very common to observe individuals who have smartphones and other portable technologies that are constantly connected to the Internet. The discussion will be centred on the contribution that ICTs could have to help plan public open spaces, with the presentation of some examples of experiences made with ICTs on improvements of these public spaces. With the technological growth that we have observed, ICT must be used to both improve the participatory methods, and act as a tool to bring people to be more outdoors and use public spaces.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Does the human brain really like ICT tools and being outdoors? a brief overview of the cognitive neuroscience perspective of the CyberParks concept

The paper presents an overview of the latest studies on cognitive neuroscience that can help evaluate concepts that promote technologically-enhanced outdoor activities, such as CyberParks. The following questions are asked in the paper: does the human brain really like ICT tools? Does the human brain really like being outdoors? And finally: does the human brain really like technologically-enhanced outdoor activities? The results of the studies presented show that the human brain does not like ICT tools yet, it likes being outdoors very much. At the same time, it was shown that outdoors activities may be encouraged by ICT tools, yet outdoors activities themselves should be free from ICT tools. Using ICT tools and physical activity at the same time is a dual task, a type of activity that leads to cognitive and physical processes being destabilised, which leads to weakened effects of both cognitive and physical tasks. From the perspective of cognitive neuroscience, CyberParks are not a solution that the human brain really likes. Another issue is also discussed, namely: do technologically-enhanced outdoor activities—such as in CyberParks—really increase the quality of life?The study was supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action: Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness (CYBERPARKS) (TUD COST Action TU1306).peer-reviewe

Socio-spatial practices: An introduction and overview

We are now firmly in a digital era and technologies are ever-present. Since the introduction of new digital technologies and ICTs, such as smart phones, the literature has presented some contrasting analyses of the socio-spatial practices and impacts that have resulted from the uptake of new technologies in urban public spaces. On one hand, there is a particular set of debates that have expressed concerns that the introduction of digital technologies, especially personal ICTs, is leading to a greater withdrawal from urban public spaces

People, public space, digital technology and social practice : an ethnographic approach

Ethnography matters when to provide sustainable and inclusive urban spaces is an issue. Advancing knowledge on the relationship between social practices and public space is therefore crucial. This paper seeks to contribute to widening the debate about this relationship, added now by the phenomenon of penetration of ICT into public spaces. The main goal is to propose a methodological approach to guide the research in the field of urban ethnography. This approach is based, on the one hand, on long experience in ethnographic studies on public spaces, with the goal of identifying the relationship between social practices and the space in the configuration of representations and creation of socio-spatial images, particularly in urban transformation processes. On the other hand, it is based on a detailed analysis of the CyberParks Project objectives. Both allow us to better define the analysis dimensions and to identify their variables. Such framework could be used to guide future ethnographic research to be undertaken in CyberParks and beyond.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe

Urban development in respect to social media – the applicability of the Amsterdam city experience in other European cities

Social media and digital methods provide people with mechanism that allows them to organise themselves around collective issues and to manage social and infrastructural resources in new collaborative ways. Knowledge of the best practices in the application of social media in the process of urban planning, design and social networking was gained under the Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) under the COST Action 1306, and these are discussed, together with a comparison of common public activities in Amsterdam and Sofia. It has been proven that with the possibility to support better understandings of the connection between technology, public needs and spatial development, a visual approach could bring valuable knowledge and information. In Amsterdam and in Sofia, there were similar physical activities undertaken by common people and there was not wide use of technology detected, except use of smart-phones. In Sofia, from one side there was not enough knowledge and experience in technology application for urban open space development and, on the other hand, citizens are willing to learn more about Amsterdam’s good practices in urban regeneration by actively supporting social media and playful games. The study is an attempt towards understanding the complex relationship between mobile media, citizens’ experience, possible changes in their lifestyles and possible spatial development and planning.Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.peer-reviewe