Concrete is a ubiquitous material in urban environments and increasingly used by industry and the maker movement. However, there is little research about its affordance and its potential for embedded User Interfaces (UI). In our ongoing work, we investigate different manufacturing processes and design strategies to change and adapt the affordances of concrete to make it appear interactive. We tested three interface elements, a button, a scroll wheel, and a slider, with 33 participants in a lab elicitation study. Each was created in two versions following two design strategies, one with a more natural look, the other more abstract. Five participants then bodystormed ideas with the prototypes in an outdoor environment. Based on our explorations, we discuss design considerations for creating concrete interfaces including the potential of both design strategies and present different application scenarios.

Shaping Concrete for Interaction

The new technologies based on GIS and AR allow to make the urban space usable and focus attention on hidden hotspots. The research draws a GIS map of the paths identified by writers; redesigns the artist’s works in a 3D space using Blender3D; uses AR to project “on-site” virtual animations on the screen of mobile devices; extends this workflow to many other spontaneous arts within the city of Naples and in the major cities of Europe. NSN997 is one of the cases studied by the research. In this case, in addition to the dissemination of their art through technology, the research can establish “remote” connections between the works present in Naples and those of Madrid, leading the users to establish transversal reading keys and not strictly connected to the individual work. The second case studied is Gianluca Raro’s work, which is focused on peripheral areas of Naples and minor urban centres. The project can provide the opportunity to enhance the less frequented areas by tracing eco-sustainable alternative mobility paths. The research aims to create both physical and semantic connections, adapting to the urban and social contexts of those places that have now become real open-air canvases at the service of the artists and which are destined to become a huge cultural resource.

3D Animation Applied to Street Art. Physical and Remote Connections Aimed at Inclusion

This article discusses the creation of an application with augmented reality technology, in order to improve the process of training skilled professionals in the field of aircraft engineering among students of higher education institutions. The application allows students to study and test their knowledge about the main aircraft units located in the aircraft class of the Department of Aircraft Construction and Design. This project is an Android-based application with the recognition of details on real objects (aircraft units) arranged in the class. The following tools and technologies have been used to create the application: Blender 3D for modeling objects, Unity 3D for creating the application interface and Vuforia Engine as a developer's toolkit.

Development and Application of an Application with Augmented Reality Technology for Training Future Aircraft Designers

This article discusses the creation of an application with augmented reality technology, in order to improve the process of training skilled professionals in the field of aircraft engineering among students of higher education institutions. The application allows students to study and test their knowledge about the main aircraft units located in the aircraft class of the Department of Aircraft Construction and Design. This project is an Android-based application with the recognition of details on real objects (aircraft units) arranged in the class. The following tools and technologies have been used to create the application: Blender 3D for modeling objects, Unity 3D for creating the application interface and Vuforia Engine as a developer's toolkit. 

An overview of how AR art has evolved and, in particular, how Heavy Projects' work has transitioned from guerrilla-style AR street art interventions to large scale, interactive, public space murals working with such clients as the University of Geneva, Qualcomm, SXSW, Google I/O, and San Francisco Design Week. This talk provides workflow examples of "Digital Neuron" AR mural [Geneva, 2016], "Parabola" AR mural [San Francisco, 2017], and "Evolution of an Idea," the largest AR mural in the world [185'x25', San Diego, 2015]. In illuminating these projects, this talk outlines best practices for other digital artists to create outdoor AR artworks. In short, this talk will provide general insight into the progression of AR art, discuss prominent digital artists currently working in this space, and deliver a practical workflow of how to create works in the new medium of interactive AR art.

BC Biermann

Papers

Augmented reality, art, and public space