Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This paper investigates the role technology and neuroscience play in aiding the design process to make meaningful connections between people. It moves on to indicate that design can harness this power for social and environmental changes and in so doing it theorizes an agenda that places technological relationships with humans at the center of the design conversation. By investigating contextual awareness in the project presented, the paper explores opportunities for multi-sensory design, and together with the use of different sensory elements explores the conception of a piece of furniture that can change, in real-time, depending on the user input and bio-sensing. The project makes use of technology to capture one’s body information using EEG and biosensors that measures heart activity, breathing rate, skin conductance, skin moisture, skin temperature and body motion to create a synergistic relationship between this technology and optical surface material (thermal-chromic paint and bio-metal to change with electrical input), which is connected to a piece of interactive, intelligent furniture that presents this information back to the users in real-time. As users engage with the table, moods and senses of well-being are brought to the forefront of the experience. This information is displayed not virtually, but physically via a multi-sensory approach (sight, sound, and touch) to stimulate non-verbal communication between people, as a means to be more effective in communication, understand one another and to promote new experiences and meaningful encounters.