39 research outputs found
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