WEEK SIX: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ONE STATEMENT

Technology, from its inception, has changed the way we, as humans, interact. From the first written word, technology has become an intermediary to our communications with each other, and hampered our abilities to connect at a deeper level.

Already, research is showing that although we are more connected than ever before, through the use of the internet, social media and smart devices, we feel more lonely and isolated, and we are beginning to forget how to form real connections and relationships with fellow people. This has led to a breakdown not only within our communities, but also within us, with mental health on a decline worldwide. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it can be seen that we are forgetting our needs for love and belonging, while trying to satisfy our esteem and self-actualisation needs.

Indeed, we need to address areas of social sustainability, including our communities and relationships, our connections with others, quality of life and social cohesions to ascertain whether our actions are for our own longevity.  Certainly, we need to address our diversity and our experience of culture, both our own and of others, and whether we are working to preserve this.  We need to understand that education, here, is the key. Finally, we much understand the importance of the preservation of our human and knowledge capital for our future well being.

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But, perhaps given the rapid advancement of technology in the last 100 years, and the level of technology in this field that already exists, by 2050, people will be able to communicate directly on a purely mental level.

Synergy is a technology which allows users to share their consciousness with other users, as a way of returning to direct communication between people, regardless of location, without intermediaries. The aim- to create real connections, enhance deeper levels of communication and build communities so that people will once again begin to feel truly connected.

WEEK SIX: DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS

Sustainable Future
Our sustainable future idea was different to any which i had looked at in the past, due to the fact that we were not looking at environmental sustainability, but rather social sustainability.  Our group was concerned with how people connect and building communities. We looked at quality of life and personal growth, as well as educational opportunities that would come with shared consciousness.  We acknowledged the importance of education specifically, as for knowledge to be shared in this network, it would have to be known.  Specifically, we were interested in social cohesion and disconnectedness, as well as diversity.

This led to an understanding of the need for cultural sustainability, through a celebration of diversity, and allowing people to preserve their own cultures through a knowledge based network, as well as experience other cultures through education.

Finally, the preservation of human and knowledge capital was acknowledged as an economically sustainable need.

Future Vision//People//Lifestyles

Our future vision is a world where society has lost its social connections due to the prevalence of communication technologies which have eroded peoples' abilities to relate to each other...

People in this world are isolated and lonely, they want to communicate but they can't, and they need to find a way in which to make real connections, free of intermediaries, again...

WEEK FIVE: APPLICATIONS

This week in class, the main issue which we faced was exploring architectural applications for our shared consciousness idea. We finally came up with three ideas.

Medical Applications

• Would allow those who could not communicate the ability to, including those with autism, degenerative diseases, perhaps even those in a coma or vegetative state.
• Help treat mental health issues by being able to understand hallucinations, help people through psychotic episodes or anxiety attacks.
• Treat diseases such as obesity
• Help the blind to see.

Collaborative Works

• Allow artists, architects, designers, etc to show others ideas from within their minds, without the need to illustrate them physically, cutting down on design development time.
• Allow those on projects to collaborate in a new way.
• Allow a high-level of group think
• revolutionise the way we have meetings

Shared Experiences

• Allow people to share experiences with each other from across the world by accessing each others mind- so you can be where the other is, see what they see, feel what they feel, hear what they hear.
• Allow people to use a third party to have an experience together- i.e. travel

In this class, we also allocated research for next week's presentation.

WEEK FIVE: ARCHITECTURE THAT IS ARBITRARY

Last semester, I handed in a design assignment, for which I received a 6, where the criticism was that while my idea was amazing, and my execution of that idea from a business and user point of view was 100% spot on, the physical architecture itself was arbitrary.  At the time, I was a little disappointed, however I could understand the criticism.  Why this is important to reflect on today, has much to do with Isozaki's (1999) article, which concentrates on the work of Cedric Price, and in particular, the Fun Palace.  

The Fun Palace was to be socially interactive architecture, interchangeable, innovative and improvisational- it was to change the way architecture was thought of. Its program was different to that of traditional architecture- it was flexible but arranged, and technologically forward-thinking. It was groundbreaking stuff, but its physical form was arbitrary- physically, the fun palace was a container of awesome ideas and systems- a box of moving parts.

Which leads to my point- why then, are we, as students, criticised for doing the same? If architecture is moving past being just about the physical form, then at what point does the physical form stop mattering, and the function become more important?  What happens when architects transcend physical architecture? Can it be achievable? Sustainable? Or is it all just mere fantasy, a way to dare to dream beyond our stair detail and wet area elevation realities?

WEEK FIVE: READ MY MIND

The above video was one of the first that I looked at when thinking about mind reading/brain scanning technologies, and I was left feeling slightly disenchanted.  However, upon asking other people about these ideas, I began to find a number of studies and research  institutes where it seemed science was making a headway into this type of technology.

In the above video, Tan Le outlines her research on brain scanning technology in the form of a headset, which is also discussed here. 

Similarly, researchers at Stanford University have found ways to use fMRI technology to identify how a person is feeling, which is outlined here.

Researchers at Maastricht University, in the Netherlands, created a device, also using fMRI technology which allows people who are unable to speak to have back and forth conversations, by encoding each letter of the alphabet as a single mental process- information here.

Scientists have also managed to decode peoples brain activity into words, through using a computer to decipher brain activity and play back words that study participants had heard.  Researchers believe that within 10 years, they would be able to transmit words that a user thinks of as a sound- details here.

In the US, predictably, the use of mind-scanning technology is for the control of "terrorism", with the MALINENT system, described here, which is aimed at leading security services to potential terrorists by identifying emotions.

In Japan, however, researchers from the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories have developed brain analysis technology which can decipher images from a users brain and display them on a computer screen.  Dr Cheng, from the institute, believes that by 2020, they will have the technology to adequately be able to read thoughts, with the ability to read feelings and complex emotional states beyond that.

From the above, I feel that given the deadline of 2050, there is a good chance that science could find an answer which would allow shared consciousness to become a reality, however the issue of turning parts of ones brain "off" was still bothering me.  An answer lay in transcranial mental stimulation- which uses electromagnets to, quite simply, turn part of the brain off, in a temporary fashion.  Details are here, but there has been a lot of research on the subject.

WEEK FOUR: SHARED CONSCIOUSNESS

This week in class we had to come up with a final idea for our assignment, a task which we found quite difficult. After sharing our individual ideas, we were no closer, so as a group we began to, quite literally, throw ideas around. We kept, however, coming back to trying to find a way in which people could communicate directly with each other without the need for a in intermediary device- such as a screen or speaker. Eventually, an idea which seemed extremely far fetched kept coming to light- shared consciousness.

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The basic idea which we were exploring was one where we could use technology to connect our consciousnesses with others around the world, and allow us to broadcast our thoughts. The premise was that while internet communication allowed us to communicate with one another, it has barriers.  

Although we were unsure how this would work- we explored various possibilities, the first of which was- what information would be shared?  We proposed that those with knowledge would likely have the most to share and perhaps this would change the structure of society- where knowledge would once again equal social standing- those who were the most intelligent would become the most important. 

The negative aspects were briefly explored, including the need to be able to segment thoughts, or turn off some areas of the brain.  There was also the idea that perhaps verbal communication would decrease.  

Security issues were identified, as there may be some scope for "brain hacking", theft of information and even viruses, however these are beyond the scope of the project.  

We left the studio with an idea which could work, but knowing that we had to complete a lot of research to ascertain whether or not it was even a remote possibility.

WEEK FOUR: EXISTENTIALISM, MARXISM AND HATING ON CAPITALISM

My political views tend to differ from those of most of the architectural fraternity- I am a capitalist, a right-wing libertarian who is inherently distrustful of governments.  That said, I often find myself at odds with much of the socialist, Marxist rhetoric being spewed by design intellectuals, desperate to find deeper meaning in their work.  This weeks first reading has, therefore, left me rather unimpressed.

Winter's (2007) article outlines a particular opinion of Debord which has me amused to say the least, that capitalism has created pseudo-needs to increase consumption, amongst other arguments. I find it interesting that this view be put forth to, of all things, designers.  Designers- architects or otherwise- produce consumer products, as a livelihood. Without the "pseudo-need" for people to have new homes, commercial facilities and public buildings, architecture, as a discipline, would contract dramatically.

As much as the design intellectual would often love to rise-up against the evils of capitalism, he is at odds with a confusing dichotomy- without capitalism to pay for his works, architecture would reduce to simple drafting of repetitive designs- indeed it is only those "on top" with the wallets to fund the exciting, new and groundbreaking works of design, but to accept capitalism is to sell one's soul to the devil, or so the intellectuals would have one think. 

I, for one, am moving from the intellectual sphere, into reality.


Winters, E., 2007. Politics and the Situationist International. in. Aesthetics and architecture, London ; New York: Continuum. pp92-98 

WEEK FOUR: SIGHT

The video above is something that I watched when looking for inspiration, but it really made me think about our reliance on computers.  In relation to my research on how people are more connected than ever, but more isolated, this video encapsulated the idea of "hiding behind the screen".  Although the user in this sense was not hiding behind a "screen" as such, they are hiding behind a veil of technology which prevents a real interaction with another person- who in this case is right in front of them.

Although the video is entertaining, it really brought forward the idea of whether people, in the future, will be able to form real connections with each other, given that our reliance on technology as an intermediary to our social interactions is already so high.

WEEK FOUR: THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS

When looking to find a reason behind my designs, I often start by looking at theory. Given my previous research into the "loneliness" aspect of our connected society, I remembered a theory which I had studied back in my Business Degree- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  A psychology theory proposed in 1943 by Abraham Maslow, the hierarchy explains human developmental psychology, describing the stages of growth in people.

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The above diagram is the typical representation of Maslow's theory, with the idea that once each level of needs is fulfilled, a person will move to try and fulfill the level above.  The use of communication technologies then, it seems, is an attempt to fulfill the higher level needs- particularly esteem and self actualisation.  However, given the previously stated research on the increase of lonliness and isolation in today's society with the increased use of these technologies, it would seem that perhaps while pursuing these higher level needs, people are letting their love/belonging needs fall by the wayside. 

Have people become so obsessed with esteem and self actualisation, that they forget the foundation of love and belonging they require first? Is there a way to design a solution to this issue, for the betterment of society?

WEEK THREE: CONNECTED - ALONE

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The article “The continuous partial everywhere” is one that truly resonates with me.  Having been part of the first generation of the truly connected (our home had the internet from when I was 11), I have grown up with “friends” I have never met, who live on the other side of the planet, yet who are a part of my life.  Many are amazed that one of my closest friends I have met in person twice, yet has “known” for 14 years, speak to every day and consider very close to my heart.  The idea of being completely connected to those on the other side of the planet, constantly- where time differences are the only real barrier, is one which many find confronting- however it is the reality in which we live.  The advent on social media has meant not only various platform and media to keep us connected, but also a constant voyeuristic look into the lives of others, with real-time updates providing a continuous feed of entertainment.

Communication, it seems, is becoming less face-to-face, and more virtual, through the increased use of computers and smart devices.  However, surveys and studies are beginning to point to the fact that despite all this communication and all these options, people are beginning to feel a lot lonelier. Social connections are increasing, but decreasing in quality- people feel that they have fewer people to ”talk to”.  Social capital is declining due to numerous trends- urban sprawl, television, social media and the disintegration of the traditional family.  A recent study in Australia found that half the population is active on Facebook, and that these users reported increased feelings of loneliness to non-users. And loneliness, it seems, increases with online interactions and affects not only ones psychological wellbeing, but the way genes are expresses- the basic process of DNA transcription.  When you are lonely, your whole body is lonely.

Hampton, K. Sessions Goulet, L. Her, E. J. and Rainie, L. 2009. “Social Isolation and New Technology”. Pew Research Centre. Online: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18--Social-Isolation-and-New-Technology.aspx

Laranier, J. 2010. You Are Not a Gadget.  USA: Knopf Doubleday

Marchie, S. ND.“Is Facebook Making us Lonely”. The Atlantic. Accessed 10 August, 2012. Online: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/308930/

Turkle, S. 2011. Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology, and less from each other”.  New York: Basic Books.

Zelfde, J. V., 2012. "The aspatial city." The continuous partial everywhere. http://juhavantzelfde.com/post/23506562343/the-aspatial-city.

WEEK THREE: LAYERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Brand’s (1997) chapter “Shearing Layers” presents ideas which I have considered before, but have never really researched.  The idea of a building as layers of longevity of built components is extremely interesting.  It forces the architect to think to the future- what becomes of the building once the current interior or use is no longer relevant?  To build for longevity, it seems, one must consider beyond a single use, and build for flexibility.  The structure of a building must transcend its initial intended use and allow for changing of tenants, functions, tastes and purpose. It must be dynamic and adaptive to enable it to serve its future users.  In this way, the architect perhaps, at a minimum, needs to explore future uses of their designs, or at the very least, design that which is flexible enough for relevance in the future.

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The above image outlines the various layers of a building which Brand describes in his article, as well as a few others.  Personally, I feel that this is an interesting but useful way of understanding a building from the point of view of time.

Brand, S., 1997. Shearing Layers, in How buildings learn : what happens after they’re built, London: Phoenix Illustrated. pp12-23 

WEEK THREE: DESIGN IDEAS

Class this week was a little difficult for me, as we had to begin thinking about our assignment and the whole idea of the virtual tutorial was still a little confusing. Our group kept running back and forth with ideas, but nothing seemed to stick.

Firstly, the idea of a virtual environment was one which had us all a little perplexed.  Coming form a design background, we were all used to the tangible and "real", so the idea of a virtual environment was confronting to say the least. The advantage of the virtual environment, however, is that there are few limitations to possibilities.  

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Our group did, however, come up with a number of guidelines for our possible architectural fiction.  These included that any situation had to be somewhat realistic- that is, there had to be some field of study that was already currently leading toward this innovation, as we believed we should not look more than 50 years into the future for our virtual solution.  Secondly, we would try to stay away from the gimmicky and "tacky" ideas of virtual reality and "second life" or "sims" type applications.  Finally, we decided that whatever virtual solution we decided upon should be to the benefit of society, and to stay away from any apocalyptic potential secnarios or applications.  That said, a brainstorming session ensued.

An early idea was of a governing system which oversaw human life.  The background idea relates to an increasing reliance on systems in our day-to-day lives.  This idea, however, was quickly voted down due to its overwhelming use in movies, and the fact that the majority of opinions within these movies lead to the system eventually attempting to eradicate humanity.

A second idea was floated by way of a plug-and-play healthcare system, which would allow users to connect and upload data, which would then be analysed for uses varying from dietary requirements to diagnosis of illnesses. This idea needs further investigation in terms of whether or not technology could actually exist within the 50 year time-frame that would enable it to come to fruition.

The idea of a virtual system where language was no longer an issue for communication was explored, however the use of computer programs such as google translate mean that a sophisticated translation software is likely to occur in the very near term.  Interestingly, the adoption of a universal second language was also considered- although not a virtual solution.  Such a language, it seems, actually exists in the form of Esperanto, which has been derived from many different languages in order to make it easy to learn and understand. More information can be found here. 

An idea which was particularly interesting was that of the "internet friend" phenomenon- that people could have "friends" on the other side of the world that they had never met in person.  We tried to understand how these friendships exist, and what limitations they may have, and it was postulated that perhaps it would be difficult for these people to have the shared experiences that would exist in "real life".  As class was ending, we decided to explore this individually and come prepared for next weeks class.

One quite humorous outcome of this weeks class was the discovery of a kissing machine in Japan, which allowed those in a long distance relationship to "kiss" each other. Personally, I find it disturbed, but the video is below.

WEEK THREE: DESIGN THINKING V. DESIGNERS

A personal issue which I faced, as did many in the "virtual" theme, was why, as architecture students, we were not simply designing a building. Architecture is the field which defines spaces for the built environment- we design buildings and spaces, we aren't here to save the world.

After musing for some time, and doing a lot of research, a few ideas began to emerge.  As a designer, one is charged with creating for use- that is, we create buildings, products, interiors for use by other people.  Our designs are judged successful if they create emotion, or are functional- they are judged not for themselves, but for their impact on a user.  A design which is merely beautiful, but completely useless in terms of its intended purpose, becomes irrelevant. As designers, we possess the ability to examine problems at a variety of scales. Contextual analysis gives us insight into the future, as does our ability to see the "big picture". We possess the unique ability to visualise highly theoretical, conceptual problems and offer tangible solutions grounded in reality. 

As architects, we also manipulate human behaviour and emotion through texture, lighting, scale, etc, to elicit certain responses, and our actions can define the social landscape through the structures we create. Our work helps to engineer and master-plan how society may function.

The term "Design Thinking" has become some-what of a management buzz-word of late, however it relates to the methods and processes for investigating ill-defined problems, acquiring information, analyzing knowledge and posting solutions often used in the design field. It is generally considered the ability to combine empathy for the context of a problem, creativity in the generation of insights and solutions, and rationality to analyse and fit solutions to the context. Design thinking, it is reported, is less concerned with products that attract customers, and more with those that meet their needs- it is human centered.

Design thinking has been reported as being:

• Collaborative, especially with others having different and complimentary experience, to generate better work and form agreement
• Abductive, inventing new options to find new and better solutions to new problems
• Experimental, building prototypes and posing hypotheses, testing them, and iterating this activity to find what works and what doesn’t work to manage risk
• Personal, considering the unique context of each problem and the people involved
• Integrative, perceiving an entire system and its linkages
• Interpretive, devising how to frame the problem and judge the possible solutions

Simply put- it is "why not", with an added layer of rationale.

And it seems that all over the world, managers are taking 4 day workshops in design thinking and revolutionising the world, right? Wrong.

There is one element of "Design Thinking" which it seems those who analyse from the outside miss, yet designers (thanks to years of study) understand- design thinking- or what to us is simply know as "design" requires a form of artistry that comes after years of practice. It cannot be learnt through reading or practicing theory, but from actually doing- from actually designing.  Designers consider a limited set of alternatives and develop guiding principles, then create a partial solution to a partial problem, and then run through a set of iterations to see what else can be learnt about the problem. Design is messy, not linear, but it is also measured and analysed at every step with a methodology which comes from practice.

So why a designer to create the solution? Well, the answer is simple- we haven't actually figured out the problem as yet, but by running through a number of solutions, perhaps we can further understand our problem.  And the designer is one who, as second nature, considers people in their solutions at the outset, not for nobility, not for emotive or sentimental reasons, but because he has been trained to do so from the very outset, and old habits die hard.

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I really like the above image, because it encapsulates exactly what we go through, as designers, often subconsciously, every time we design a solution.

WEEK TWO: PAST LESSONS/FUTURE WARNINGS

The Japanese Tsunami warning rock phenomenon is quite interesting to me, as it shows the very human emotive concern for the well-being expressed for people that one will never know. This, to me, is interesting as it shows a future vision, albeit in a different way to what I am used to hearing (sci-fi movies and apocalyptic thrillers aside).

The people who left the rocks as warnings would not have realised that future populations would be high enough for land to be at a premium.  They could not, in 1890, have considered the world in which we live today.  They would only know of a two things- tsunami's kill and people need to be warned. But these warnings from the past hold so much relevance in the present, and although now they seem primitive and crude, their purpose is of great importance.

The lesson to be learnt from this is that as we learn lessons from the past, we must also think about the ways in which we can preserve information for those in the future.  Furthermore, we should think about the world that those in the future will inherit, and how, from a holistic view, we will leave it.

Fackler, M., 2011. Tsunami Warnings, Written in Stone. Accessed 20 July 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/asia/21stones.html

Week Two: greenwashing

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The term "greenwashing" amuses me greatly, as I too have become disenchanted overuse of "green" and "environmentally friendly".  Although these ideas originally came from those who truly believed helping the environment was necessary, it seems that they have been somewhat hijacked as a marketing ploy.  The hotel towel example Motavalli (2011) uses is one which resonates with me, as I often wonder whether hotels are really concerned about environmental issues, or whether they are more interested in using environmental concerns as a tool in improving their bottom line.  

The question that must be asked, however, is does it really matter? If the environment is the concern, and "environmental awareness" has become a fad to the point where marketing companies use it to sell products- isn't the true winner in this the environment? Big business may win a little too, but only as a by-product and although we are "supposed" to think of them as the evil opponent, does it really matter? Yes, hotels do waste resources in other areas, but aren't we taught that every little bit counts?

Motavalli, J., 2011. A History of Greenwashing: How Dirty Towels Impacted the Green Movement. Accessed 28 July 2012 http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/12/the-history-of-greenwashing-how-dirty-towels-impacted-the-green/

Week Two: Exploring Future Possibilities

This in-class exercise was about stretching our imaginations for future possibilities under various constraints.  We looked at possible answers to future issues in the urban, suburban, regional and virtual spheres.

Regional

In the regional sphere, the scenario put forth was that of the self sustaining society.  In an attempt to move from the cliche notions of environmental or food sustainability, our group delved into our imaginations for the most arb or obscure answers we could find.

The Intellectual Utopia

A self-sustained society of intellectuals where none of the "dregs" of current society exist. A society with its own governance, laws, regulations and systems.  Issues in this society would be a lack of workforce for menial tasks and "grunt" work, but workarounds were explored.  Perhaps, through the use of technology and robots, the "underlings" of society would no longer be required.  Perhaps, through trade, workers from outside could be brought in.  In terms of what this society could trade with others, the answer lays in both technology and services, however this was not fully explored. 

The Human Farm

The second idea put forth was that of the "Human Farm"- an area in which organs are farmed to be harvested.  Indeed, this idea has been the subject of many movies and books, where its manifestation has largely been in the form of clones.  Many ethical dilemmas come to surface: the idea is inhumane, there are biological sustainability issues, the dichotomy of sacrificing the healthy clone to prolong the life of a sick person.  Even issues such as an aging population and related economic outcomes can be brought to this.  

Virtual

In the virtual sphere, students were asked to imagine virtual solutions for physical issues.

The Virtual Office

The idea of the virtual office was to ease congestion within the CBD.  The background idea is that there are many jobs which could be done to a high level of proficiency without needing to be within the corporate office- such as administrative tasks, accounting, call centers, etc to name a few. Therefore, the proposal is that instead of "going to work" an employee would simply go to a designated room in their house- or perhaps a sub-office located close by, and be linked to their "office" virtually- that is, be able to "see" others within their office through the use of video-conferencing technology which would be projected onto the walls when necessary. 

The Virtual Car

In order to ease traffic congestion, the idea of the removal of cars was explored.  In this future, instead of cars, a system of pods with pre-set exit points could be used to take people to where they need to go.  Obvious issues include a need for an entirely new set of infrastructure, however there would be no need for traffic lights or traffic police. Additionally, people would no longer be able to "take a drive" for relaxation.

The Virtual Medical Center

In regional areas, medical attention is hard to come by, with many doctors having to live the FIFO lifestyle to attend to patients, and many patients having to travel hundreds of kilometers to the nearest town for treatments.  The idea of a virtual medical center would be one where a doctor in a large city could examine patients in rural areas through the use of both robotics and video conferencing. Indeed, robotic surgeries have been performed in the past, however the idea is to take this technology further and perform not only surgeries, but chemotherapy and dialysis, as well as simple medical check-ups and diagnosis using robots which can "examine" patients in the way that a medical practitioner would, but with the aid of a remote practitioner at all times. 

Virtual Safety Training

In Queensland, the mining industry is in a boom and experienced workers are hard to come by. The demands of a FIFO lifestyle mean that turnover is high, and from a safety point of view, only a certain percentage of inexperienced staff can be used at any given time.  In order to combat this need for experienced workers, the idea of a virtual training facility was put forth.  Using cutting edge virtual reality software, paired with real machinery, it would be possible to create a simulation of the underground mining atmosphere, allowing trainees to gain the necessary experience, without any of the safety risks.  Trainees could be taught all the necessary requirements of their jobs before "heading underground" and could be put through a variety of simulations and issues, and even be tested on their responses in a controlled environment.  This type of training is already used by airlines to train both pilots and cabin crew.

Urban

In the urban setting, students were asked to imagine a future where the BCC imposed a London-Style congestion charge. Our group came up with a number of considerations which would need to be addressed

• Cost Implications
• Parking implications at the fringe of the congestion charge. 
• Public transportation options, costs and network- presumably people would be encouraged to use public transport but the network would need some upgrading in peak times to handle this.
• Would people enter the city after nightfall, or stay in the suburbs to avoid the charge? Would the city become a slum at night. What about safety in the city at night?
• How would people get around the city? The idea of an elevated monorail, or underground subway system were explored.
• What would happen to the streets? streets are necessary not only for cars, but for orientation- without them the city may become confusing to navigate.

Suburban

In the suburban theme, we were asked to explore the online retail phenomenon, and what would happen if retailers moved their models purely online, with shopping centers being used purely to experience products. One of the issues encountered was the generation Y instant gratification mentality- if one were to experience a product and wanted to buy it immediately, how would they then do that? Perhaps the experience center should be set up by manufacturers rather than retailers- so that the public is forced to buy from retailers online.  

Phone Shopping

Another idea in this theme was the idea of using a phone application that would allow products to be bought and then delivered to a users home address through the use of a camera phone.  Posters, banners and advertising could be placed in public areas, or on public transport, and a user would simply take a photo of the product, and the app would then place an order for, and pay for said product, which would be shipped immediately. Of course, in this sense losing ones phone would be a serious issue. 

Week One: Beyond Architecture Musings

The chapter, Beyond Architecture (Sadler, 2005), regales the story of Archigram, an avant-garde architectural group established in the 1960's that was futurist, anti-heroic and pro-consumerist and drew inspiration from technology in order to create a new reality, solely expressed through hypothetical projects. The article outlines the theoretical underpinnings, beliefs and publications of the group.

Of interest to me, was the notion portrayed that the consumerist lifestyle is simply a mirror of the natural life-cycle: birth and death.  The idea of design for obsolescence was particularly confronting- as a designer the time, effort, emotion, blood, sweat and tears put into a design is huge, and the thought of that design being temporary and disposable is almost heartbreaking. I asked a friend who designs packaging of his thoughts, and he responded that the purpose of his designs was not to last, but to entice people to buy the product.  Once it had been purchased, the design had "done its job" and was no longer relevant.

As an architect, however, the purpose of our design is to create containers for human experience- so then does the changes in the experiences requested render our designs obsolete? Do the breakdown of the container, or the passing fashion and fads determine this?  Should we design for resilience to these, or accept that what we create will be brought down, perhaps even in our lifetimes?  Or do we design for a future which we predict and hope that we "got it right"?

In the case of Archigram, it seems that the latter was the case- the group purported designs for a future possibility, however they overplayed their hand.  Certainly, some of their ideas for the future exist now, but not to the extent to which was predicted. Perhaps the group got so excited about future possibilities they forgot one fundamental issue- human beings are naturally resistant to change, and will therefore, be resistant to any major changes in their lives.  Certainly, the technology is there, and the adoption of new technologies is rapidly increasing, however, the fundamental ways in which we live has changed little over the years.

So what does this mean for DAB810, and for me?  It means that in designing for the future one needs to consider not only the advancement of technology, or the change in political and social norms, but the people involved and whether or not they would be receptive to these changes, and whether those changes are cost-effective enough to be implemented to a large scale.

Sadler, S., 2005. Beyond Architecture. In. Archigram: Architecture Without Architecture, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. pp90-138

Week One: Mental Upload

The video above was played during the introduction to this unit and provided a view of a potential future, where death simply became a new form of consciousness.  The ideas within it have been explored in the past- indeed there have been many movies (i.e. The Matrix Trilogy) and books which have toyed the idea of a digital reality for the future. Even within this weeks reading "Innovations that will change your tomorrow", Tim Wu recognises a "brain map", which maps every neural connection in your mind- a clear predecessor to this above technology, as having future potential.

Without exploring the various technological, psychological and physical issues, the architectural response to this would be exciting to fantasise. However, the realisation of this technology may have various physical needs.

If one were to assume a "Matrix" style reality, then physically the architectural needs would be some form of "pod" system in which humans could be kept alive. Even if it were just the comatose bodies of the "dead", the needs would not be much different.

If it were only the consciousnesses of those who had deceased that was kept "alive" in the network, then perhaps all that would be needed would be a secure facility in which to store the masses of technology and computer equipment required.  

Indeed, architecturally, the needs of this future potential seem to be arbitrary at best. Without consciousness, architecture would not really matter.  If architecture is in the experience of it, then does a move toward a digital reality reduce its applicability? Even in a world where we are  "connected" at every moment of every day, do physical or "real" experiences have less meaning? At which point will our physical reality mean less than our virtual one?

Week One: A new beginning...

If architecture aims to respond to human needs, issues and problems, then when looking to the future of architecture, one must envisage future needs and issues.  Thus, the idea of architecture fiction as a proposition to future potential has considerable appeal.