A New Artifact Integrating Different Design Technologies - Coursework Example

?A New Artefact Integrating Different Design Technologies: “The Smoking Woman on the Sidewalk” Introduction: The artefact for this project is a transparent glass statue of the upper torso of a female human form and it will be initially placed near a public park in London. The project will be sponsored by the National Health Services, or any other such organisations, as part of their antismoking campaign in the UK. This will be a test project and, based on its success in eliciting public response, similar artefacts will be introduced in other parts of the country as well. The artefact itself will be the size of an average human torso, which will be placed on a square platform and will be encased in a glass box of about six feet height and three feet width on all sides. Glass panels on all sides will be electric blue in colour and embedded with LED lightning streaks panelled on the sides and back, which can play different patterns of lightning on predetermined intervals or through sensor detection as people pass by and on-off switch will be controlled both through pre-programmed computer system within the platform of the artefact. The front side will be plain glass with no embellishments to afford a clear view. The female form will be rendered in very light cream colour to allow better transparency. The artefact will be facing the sidewalk or road so that it receives maximum view. The female has a cigarette packet in her left hand and a lighted cigarette between the fingers of her right hand. Every time she brings the cigarette to her mouth and takes a drag, the tip will glow and her lungs will be displayed. As she takes out the cigarette from her mouth and brings the hand down, her lungs will darken and the light will fade out. An audio will play, “Puffing out Your Lungs?” and simultaneously the lightning streaks will illuminate, playing different patterns on all sides and, at the same time, the words of the audio will appear on the front panel. Once the entire series of action is completed, it will repeat only when a passerby approaches within the radius of five metres, or again at a predetermined interval as per the computer programme. When placed on busy roadsides and other areas in future, the artefact will cater for appropriate changes depending on the locations where these will be placed and will also introduce sensors and other appropriate systems for vehicles passing by. During the intervals between the actions, the system will play some mild music. Evaluation: The main objective of this project is to attract the attention of the public to the health hazards of behaviours such as smoking. The glasswork of the design and the lighting effects are intended for attracting and engaging the public who are the audience for this campaign. LED embedding in glass panels is a rather recently developed technology that has immense potential in attracting attention. The technology involves the use of a “sustainable active glass system,” which can diffuse an array of vibrant colour lights emanating from LEDs and can be operated through electronic programming (LED in Glass 2011:2). The following diagram will illustrate the system: (LED in Glass 2011) This system allows the emission of light from several multicoloured LED strips through glass edges and the light gets “refracted out of the front and back” (2). The same technology will be used for the burning tip of the cigarette, which will be triggered on the movement of the arm. This technology offers immense possibility of aligning a wide range of design, colour and light features into glass and can be highly appealing to the audience, especially during night times. The lightning streaks will be in deep orange colour that will enable visibility from distance and also catch the immediate attraction of public. The system will operate through electronic programming of a suitable type that is user friendly and cost effective. In addition, technologies such as cloud computing will be used for enabling easy access and operational efficiency of the system and its multiple functions. The movements of the arm and subsequent actions, as stated earlier, will be activated through sensors that will remain concealed within the platform that holds the artefact. The system will use microwave radio sensors, which are considered ideal for detecting not only the major moves of humans such as walking but also their “breathing and heartbeats” (Oki 2013:6). The action of illumination to the lungs and subsequent darkening through fading lights will also be done through the programme in computer that will work on the basis of the signal from the sensor. Similarly, digital display of the text as well as playing of music and any other animation features will also be regulated through the same electronic program. The artefact and its surroundings will be under scrutiny from a remote location using audio visual support equipment and appropriate controls can also be exercised from here, depending on the situation. Design: The main challenge in the context of designing an artefact of this nature is the issue of working with glass and integrating other systems into it. The LED strips for the lightning streak effects are so delicate and cumbersome that technical difficulties may crop up at any stage of operating of the system. Similarly, since the sensors and other equipment have to be concealed within the platform, it will require high grade equipment. Integrating proper monitoring system including audio visual equipment into the box that houses the artefact will also pose certain challenges as the person(s) who monitors the system from a remote location will have to access the view of the artefact from different angles and perspectives and the cameras and recorders will have to be diligently placed to avoid being noticed by the public as well as to facilitate seamless view to those who control the system from the remote location. Another major area of concern is the designing of the artefact itself. Since its main body will be in glass, it poses many challenges especially because the designer will have to integrate the lung and embed LED for the lighting and fading effects. On the other hand, the artefact also needs robotic movement of the hand and as such metallic parts will have to be embedded into the shoulder, elbow etc without compromising the impression that it is entirely a glass structure. The designer hopes to achieve this, using the tiniest possible metallic frames and rendering it a tone and hue similar to that of glass. Another major problem concerns the sensors and controlling the rotation of the action. Human presence triggers the artefact’s arm, when the sensor sends the signal to the programme in the computer. Thus, during peak times, when a steady flow of people occurs, fresh action will be triggered before a previous action is complete. Thus, the designer will have to break reactivation of the signal before an action completes its full cycle. As another alternative the designer will explore the possibility of jamming the signal from the sensor till the completion of a full cycle of action, through a controlling device, operated from the monitoring centre. However, with proper alignment of expertise and advanced technologies, the designer feels confident that this can be achieved without compromising the overall quality. On the other hand, the technologies used in the design of this artefact offer immense possibilities for the development of products of similar nature that can draw the attention of the audience and engage their involvement. These technologies will be useful to for designers and advertisers to design innovative products and ad campaigns that are economically viable and at the same serve their purpose of reaching out to the connoisseurs of products and consumers of a wide range. In addition, these technologies pose lesser risk to the environment and are also less energy consuming. LED applications in such design have much scope for development and, with the emergence of new technologies these may find more varied use in everyday life of humans in different fields such as entertainment, education and business applications, especially for ads and communication industries. Research Issues: The current trends in design research (DR) focus on two aspects such as the kind of knowledge the researcher expects from the exercise and how to “accomplish rigor” in designing that will enable the researchers to validate any claims that they will make (Jonas & Brian 2012: 1). The purpose of any study is the evolution of concepts that can be used in execution action and, thus, the results of the research needs to be “relevant and useful for practice” (3). Besides, the practice needs to be compatible with the semiotic sense and expectations of the audience in an ever evolving perception of the aesthetics of design. Thus, the designers have to focus their research to the current relevant practice, which will keep changing in a fast pace depending on the evolution of technology. Thus, what one considers as valid in the present may not hold good tomorrow and hence designers need to update their knowledge constantly. Similarly, in a world that embraces the cultures of other regions also, a designer has to evolve strategies that make the design appealing to people from different cultures. Thus, researches relating to design must also expand to aspects of culture and tradition of different people so as to understand their sense of aesthetics and design the products accordingly. Trends: The technologies used in the development of the artefact are currently in a stage of evolution and with the advent of better technologies in the field designers will be able to more easily design products of similar nature. Besides, advancement of technologies will also enable designers to integrate more features into the design of such artefacts. As innovative technologies keep evolving, people’s perception about design and art also keep changing and they look for advanced features in products of all nature. Similarly, in a world that is replete with highly sophisticated products of different types, the competition among designers has become so stiff that in order to survive they have to be unique and innovative as well as reach out the audience and hold their attention. Thus, audience engagement rather than mere appeal has become the mantra of the present day and designers have to evolve their concept accordingly. Artefacts like the one discussed in this project has all the elements to engage the attention of the audience and with the integration of more advanced features into its design, I am confident that it will be able to engage the audience and interact more effectively with people. Reference List Jonas, S. & Brian, D. 2012. Design Research Practice: A Product Semantics Interpretation. International Workshop on IE Artefact Design and Work Practice Intervention. (accessed on December 4, 2013). LED in Glass: Luminous, Dynamic, Chromatic. 2011. Muchimuchi-Saint Gobain Glass Solutions, France. (accessed December 4, 2013). Oki Electric Company. 2013. “Ultra-sensitive Human-Detecting Sensor Technology for Elderly Care.” New Breeze, Spring 2013: pp.6-7. (accessed December 4, 2013). Read More