Finally, we have arrived on the last sprint of
the citizen-centric smart city technology representation development phase. We
have done several research steps, present it to design experts and having a
mitigation steps that is necessary to be taken to prevent from any kind
unlikeliness from the future installation. At the end, we are going to build
two different type of installation which represents two different places with
its own uniqueness. The places that will be represented is both Library and Canteen
which holds the most UQ students and staff around UQ complex.
Figure 4.1 Mitigation step in redesigning the concept
Figure 4.2 Preview of our fixed design concept
The first installation will be corresponded to
the Libraries in UQ and we have strengthened our concept for the Library. We
name the concept with ‘The Amoeba’ Installation. The reason behind of its name
is because Amoeba is related to a life mechanism which always has motions and
always reproducing itself into several numbers to create a life within its
community. Library environments has the character of the Amoeba, it is always
encouraging UQ students to reach out their best potential of themselves in
knowledges that could be given back to the society in a form of its beneficial.
In this building stage, we made the installation
with materials from construction store like Bunnings. We made it by uniting
pipes and connectors into a three different shapes, cube, rectangular cube and
trapezoid. On the other hand, we were also measuring and cutting those pipes in
order to fit each axis between the pipes and also did some solder to neopixel
light to become it longer. Each installation was glued and taped with the pipe
specialized tape to strengthen it. Once the installation has been built and quite
strong to be put in the public, we cover it with a white big cloth to cover the
technology that will be installed inside of it. The technology that we use
(Photon Particle) will be installed behind the cover together with the active
neopixel light. There will be two different neopixel light with two different
purposes, one for the giant light across the installation and one for the red
blinking lights that represents a heartbeat.
Figure 4.3 Building 'The Amoeba' Installation
Figure 4.4 The Final Form of 'The Amoeba' Installation
The neopixel light changes based on the data
that is received from the Webhook integration to the connected Photon micro
controller which determines building and number of people inside that building.
The more people signed on in that building, the faster the light changes.
Figure 4.5 Code Flashing to the Photon with Data Integration on it
Next, we have the most outrageous installation
which is ‘The Tree of Life’. I think this installation is requiring more
expenses compare to ‘The Amoeba’ installation since the material is made of
wood and it has been sliced into two sides in a form of big tree (approximately
250 cm). We haven’t got much progress in this installation since we were
focusing on ‘The Amoeba’ installation. However, we have cut some cogs to be
assembled to the tree. Beforehand, we painted it into black color as the base
color which towards our very first steampunk concept which has a combination of
gold and dark colors in surrounding it. The cogs apparently are not to be
adhered, but we are planning it to make it move. We were trying to drive the
cogs with a DC motor which is connected to the Photon micro controller. The
movement of the cogs are also based on the data received from the Webhook and
sent over to the connected Photon. Again, the more people signed on inside a
building, the faster cogs move.
Figure 4.6 Building 'The Tree of Life' Installation
Figure 4.7 The Final Form of 'The Tree of Life' Installation
For both
installation, we were also using a similar piece of code that was flashed into
several Photon. With a little modification of the code, we produce the same characteristic
of the implemented technology (both for lights and DC motor) which is moving
based on the data received. The Photon will receive specific information from
the Webhook and translate it into a desired format that will do to the code.
The code will wrap up the information for us and transfer it to the technology
as a unique representation from the technology. This information will be
represented implicitly, therefore, our team also made a QR code which redirect
to a specified website which represent the neat version of information from the
lights and motor.
Figure 4.8 Flashing all codes to all Photons
After
everything is already settled down and tested properly, then it is ready to be deployed
to the site. For the first day, we have deployed ‘The Amoeba’ installation to
the site and let it on for a while, even though it is already late to deploy
the installations. The next day, we need to deploy ‘The Tree of Life’
installation to the site until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. But we need to make
the cogs installed properly with an elastic fabric connected within cogs in
different branches. After we have done with the cogs, then we stick all of the
printed QR codes to both installations in order to initiate a mandatory
interaction between the audiences and the installations. It is time to leave
the space and let several people to look and react at the installation that we
have built for the last two weeks. Sometimes one of our team member is also
approaching people who are interested with the installation and giving them
some brief explanation about the installation.
Figure 4.9 Both Installation were successfully deployed to the site
Figure 4.10 People were Interacting with the Installations
Surprisingly,
there is an interesting feedback that came from one of the security guy of UQ
who showed his impression to this installation. He conveyed to us that he is
curious if this installation could be implemented in showing current traffic
situation around UQ streets and road. Well at the moment we keep that feedback
as the long-term goal. On top of that, I am really surprised that so much
people putting their attention and intention towards this simple yet
fascinating installation. Hopefully we could do a lot better installation
another time with more interesting shapes and concept about it.
Figure 4.10 One of our team member were explaining the purpose of the installation
