space & collaboration proposal

Title: Space and Collaboration

Significance and Need: The project focuses on better enhancing the academic culture of the university by better facilitating collaboration between students. I have made observations on the nature and trends of work and study spaces occupied within university. My opinion is that university is a place that should encourage students, lecturers, researchers and scholars to collaborate, teach and brainstorm ideas in order to meet a shared goal in their respected areas of interests. I have noticed that work and study spaces have been built to only provide ‘room’ for these groups to work in, however, I find it somewhat inefficient in how these people are able to gather and let alone collaborate with one another. The driver of collaboration is the ability to communicate with another person or group. I find that face to face collaboration is most effective compared to online collaboration because communicating to someone directly provides more depth in discussions and the experience is not quite the same compared to the online alternative. Collaboration is essential if people want to meet a shared goal.

Clients: Supervisor intended and UNSW FBE.

Supervisor Support: Web base support and permission to use spaces for project.

Aims and Objectives: This project aims to create a web-based system that will help students be grouped in rooms according to their areas of interests at that time. The system will act as a ‘check-in’ system where students can ‘check-in’ into a room. This data can be used to inform users that this student is in this room and willing to collaborate on ideas. The rooms would be defined in the systems so students are able to pick which ever room they are occupying. Because it is a ‘check-in’ web-based system, students are able to choose whether or not they want to use it. This respects the students who want quiet study in the building. Since the students are able to ‘check-in’, it would also mean students are to ‘check-out’ of the room once they are finished occupying the room. Since this system is web-based, users are able to access this from any device that allows internet access. The system will also act as an editable online profile as it will help other students know what other student’s areas of interests are, this will help in the grouping of the students. Through this, I aim to better facilitate collaboration between students in the FBE.

Purpose and Motivation: To better enhance the academic culture of the university by better facilitating collaboration between students. I see a lack in collaboration between students from different years and courses. Part of the reason is because the physical spaces in the FBE separate students and this means students are more likely to stay within their year or course groups. This would be a barrier for them to interact and collaborate with other students they would not normally talk to.

I’ve stated that university should be a place that should encourage students to collaborate and share ideas to meet a shared goal. The Red Centre is different to other buildings in the UNSW, the building groups all students studying the built environment, and this means the building is full of like-minded designers that have similar goals and career aspirations. I want to use this environment to group students together and create an academic culture where students from different years and courses are able to collaborate.

It would be ideal for studios and study places to be open and not contained in rooms because it would mean that groups and discussions are better accessible and visible to other students and people. This would mean students are able to view other people’s works without feeling they are intruding in any way. Although ideal, it’s quite unlikely because it requires physical changes and costs. The only other alternative to create this sort of environment is through the use of technology.

By using technology, it would allow students to know for certain which people and areas of interest groups are in what rooms in the building. This would allow students to be grouped by areas of interests which would encourage and facilitate better collaboration between students from different years and courses.

Technologies used: Web programming and design to create the system proposed. The system would be entirely user-generated.

Methodology: precedent studies on similar websites and systems; research into web development and programming methods for system; test out researched methods; apply to a smaller test building (such as home); test with other people checking into spaces; apply final tests to FBE with selected FBE students; evaluate and improve website if needed; and upload onto website.

Deliverables: a web-based system that facilitates collaboration, website detailing the needs for this system and project, report and precedent studies.

proposals

digital spaces

My aim is to analyse the idea of digital spaces and make people aware of this. I want to rethink the idea of ‘space’ and what it is. The idea of walls, doors, flooring and etc first comes to mind when we hear the word ‘space’. By exploring the idea of digital spaces such as wireless internet and hotspots, I would like to challenge the idea of a space that is not created by these physical elements. I would like to research and look at the digital (wireless internet) spaces created within an area (such as the FBE) and how it interacts with the physical elements. Through this, I would like to explore whether we can make these ‘invisible’ digital spaces, visible to users so they are able to see which areas have the best internet to access from.

This idea and concept will need a detailed study into the nature of how wireless internet operates. It will take into consideration the interaction and relationship between the digital space and the physical spaces that block and contain it. Once this research has been obtained, I would then need to apply it to the wireless network of the building (such as the FBE) and understand how the two elements work together. When successful, it will allow us to estimate and map out the best areas for wireless internet access.

The idea will be significant as it can redefine what space is. It will help people be aware of the digital spaces around them and also create the possibility of creating invisible spaces visible. I would deliver visualizations of the digital spaces which will help make these spaces visible and a study in how these spaces operate and their relationship to physical space.

real time occupancy information

I aim to make occupancy information accessible so people are aware of it. I have made observations on how spaces are occupied as well as how spaces are not occupied. I see many times that a space is at its fullest capacity with more people attempting to search for an available spot within that area and at the same time other spaces are quiet and still available to be occupied. I find that this is inefficient as the density of crowds is unnecessarily heavier when there are still other spaces within close proximity that are still open. I would then like to ensure crowd density within an area or building is equalized. Thus, I want to better utilize empty spaces by changing the awareness and nature in how people can occupy spaces.

This idea will be achieved through the use of sensor technology. By using sensor technology we can track and map the occupancy levels within a space or area. It will be then transferred to a database which will inform us of the occupancy information. This data then can be used to notify people of which spaces are available or not. For better accessibility, it can also be published online with real time data so people are better aware of when and which spaces are available. I will be using experimenting with software such as ‘Patchube’ to meet this goal. By publishing online, people do not necessarily have to be within the building or area at that time, it will help them track occupancy levels and decide which time will be suitable to enter that area or building. This will also give me the opportunity to visualize the data so it would be aesthetic for the audience.

The significance of this is that it will change the way people interact with the spaces around them, and as a result, it will better ensure space efficiency within an area or building. In the end, I will deliver an online real time data management website which will provide occupancy information.

collaboration & space

My aim is to enhance the academic culture of the university by better facilitating collaboration between the students and teachers. I have made observations on the nature and trends of work and study spaces occupied within university. My opinion is that university is a place that should encourage students, lecturers, researchers and scholars to collaborate, teach and brainstorm ideas in order to meet a shared goal in their respected areas of interests. I have noticed that work and study spaces have been built to only provide ‘room’ for these groups to work in, however, I find it somewhat inefficient in how these people are able to gather and let alone collaborate with one another.

The driver of collaboration is the ability to communicate with another person or group. I find that face to face collaboration is most effective compared to online collaboration because communicating to someone directly provides more depth in discussions and the experience is not quite the same compared to the online alternative. Collaboration is essential if people want to meet a shared goal.

I feel that the problem lies with how spaces are arranged. Spaces are closed and sealed off; this creates a boundary for students and teachers to collaborate as it is difficult for them to search and meet with one another. Because of this, I see that teachers and students are quite separated from one another. It is possible that we could change the layout of the spaces; and make each space open, however it would be quite unnecessary. The only other way to solve this problem is through utilizing technology.

This concept and idea would imply a change in the way we experience the spaces we occupy at university. I would like to explore the idea of how we can interact with the spaces around a building. By creating spaces that interact with the students, it will help them be aware of what spaces are suitable for collaboration with other fellow students and/or teachers. How can we make spaces interactive and help us better collaborate with one another? By collecting student information about their areas of interests and courses taken in the semester, I plan to use that information into a database that will be published on a website. Each student is to login with their details (by using a username and password) and depending on the occupancy levels and time, they are provided a suitable room that would help them collaborate with others with the same interests and courses. I find this useful because it can help stimulate their ideas about certain areas of interests through collaboration. Thus, people can collaborate more effectively through the use of technology.

By creating this environment, that is, the ability to place people together in terms of their areas of interests through technology, it is possible that the quality of work and research from university can be further improved. This can have the potential for students and researchers to have a better depth of understanding with their chosen area of interest.

Hence, I would like to achieve a system which is able to place people to a space that will allow them to collaborate with other people with similar areas of interests and courses to help better stimulate ideas.

idea three: redo

I want to rethink the idea of ‘space’ and what it is. The idea of walls, doors, flooring and etc first comes to mind when we hear the word ‘space’. By exploring the idea of digital spaces such as wireless internet and hotspots, I would like to challenge the idea of a space that is not created by these physical elements. I would like to research and look at the digital (wireless internet) spaces created within an area (such as the FBE) and how it interacts with the physical elements. Through this, I would like to explore whether we can make these ‘invisible’ digital spaces, visible to users so they are able to see which areas have the best internet to access from.

This idea and concept will need a detailed study into the nature of how wireless internet operates. It will take into consideration the interaction and relationship between the digital space and the physical spaces that block and contain it. Once this research has been obtained, I would then need to apply it to the wireless network of the building and understand how the two elements work together. When successful, it will allow us to estimate and map out the best areas for wireless internet access.

The idea will be significant as it can redefine what space is. It will help people be aware of the digital spaces around them and also create the possibility of creating invisible spaces visible.

idea two: redo

I have made observations on how spaces are occupied as well as how spaces are not occupied. I see many times that a space is at its fullest capacity with more people attempting to search for an available spot within that area and at the same time other spaces are quiet and still available to be occupied. I find that this is inefficient as the density of crowds is unnecessarily heavier when there are still other spaces within close proximity that are still open. I would then like to ensure crowd density within an area or building is equalized. Thus, I aim to better utilize empty spaces by changing the awareness and nature in how people occupy spaces.

This idea will be achieved through the use of sensor technology. By using sensor technology we can track and map the occupancy levels within a space or area. This data then can be used to notify people of which spaces are available or not. For better accessibility, it can also be published online in real time so people are better aware of when and which spaces are available. By publishing online, people do not necessarily have to be within the building or area at that time, it will help them track occupancy levels and decide which time will be suitable to enter that area or building.

The significance of this is that it will change the way people interact with the spaces around them, and as a result, it will better ensure space efficiency within an area or building.

idea one: redo

I have made observations on the nature and trends of work and study spaces occupied within university. My opinion is that university is a place that should encourage students, lecturers, researchers and scholars to collaborate, teach and brainstorm ideas in order to meet a shared goal in their respected areas of interests. I have noticed that work and study spaces have been built to provide ‘room’ for these groups to work in, however, I find it somewhat inefficient in how these people are able to gather and let alone collaborate with one another. Therefore, I would like to aim for a change in the way these groups in university can occupy spaces so that they are able to better collaborate with one another.

This concept and idea would imply a change in the way we experience the spaces we occupy at university. I would like to explore the idea of how we can interact with the spaces around a building. How can we make spaces interactive and help us better collaborate with one another? I would like to investigate the possibility of a system that allocates people to a specific space that will allow them to be grouped with other people, as a result of this it can help stimulate their ideas about certain areas of interests through collaboration. I would like to propose an idea that will have students enter their areas of interests and courses taken for the semester. By using this information and transferring it into a database that can be shown from a website, we can help students (by using a username and password) be allocated a room in the building. Thus, this can help people interact with the spaces and better collaborate with others.

By creating this environment, that is, the ability to group people together in terms of their areas of interests through the interaction of spaces, it is possible that the quality of work and research from university can be improved. This can have the potential for students and researchers to have a better depth of understanding with their chosen area of interest, this will be able to result in better networks with people and future jobs.

refined ideas

IDEA 1
I intend to redesign how people occupy and experience spaces. This would affect the space and energy efficiency of a building. From this my aim is for a means to change the social behaviour of users within a building. The reason why I would like to explore this idea is that it has the potential to change the way users occupy and interact with buildings. We can apply this idea by using a few technologies such as sensors and programming that will calculate and return data for which spaces are suitable and available for the user. Another form of technology that can be applied (and linked to programming) is the use of online social media that will help determine the ‘networking’ of users (such as students). The idea of networking is to group certain people together which will help them connect to other ‘similar’ people they would not usually collaborate with. This is significant because it will trigger a change in the way people operate and interact within a space or building. It may be able to change social behavioural trends as well as encourage effective collaboration between ‘like-minded’ designers in the FBE.

IDEA 2

I aim to create a new outlook in how people are able to better use unused spaces. This will help the way in how people be aware of other unused spaces and in situations where one space is fully occupied, the ‘users’ are able to locate the nearest available space to occupy. This will help equalize the density of people within an area. We can achieve this idea by the use of either mobile online applications which can ‘check-in’ and map people in an area or the use of sensor technology which will provide data (by mapping) to facilities management, students or planners which will help them better manage the total area. This could also have the potential to provide online real time data to the audience. This is significant because it will provide efficiency in how spaces are occupied within an area or building.

IDEA 3

I want to rethink the way in how space is created. By exploring digital space such as wireless internet and the area (hotspots) it creates, we can ‘see’ how digital space is created and its relationship with the physical space. By undergoing this research, we are able to better instigate which areas have the best internet connection points, as well as being able to map out or make it visible to the audience. By understanding the nature in how wireless internet works and their interaction with physical objects (such as walls) we are able to examine the kind of spaces that result from this digital activity. This is significant because it will be able to help make ‘invisible’ digital spaces visible for users.

possible questions & projects

• can we change the way we occupy and experience certain spaces? i would like to 're-design' the way we interact with spaces within a building. i find that sometimes a problem that arises is how people use spaces and the space efficiency to do with that. for example, there are 6 levels in the building and each level holds 50 people to study in. there are 20 people in the whole building, yet they occupy 4 of the 6 levels. why can't we place them all on the same level so the building can sustain electricity and other energy. with this in mind... can we use technology to help us exercise this idea? another way in which we can change the way spaces are occupied is to group people according to their interests, subjects, year, role (staff, student, visitor), age and etc. can we have a program which will help allocate spaces for these users? this all depends on the time and occupancy levels of the building as well. for example, if a group of students came into a building at 7pm (all from different years and such) and wanted to study in the building, how can we save space and help these users find a suitable place to study in? i'm proposing an idea which would help group people to certain spaces depending on what they study, what year they're in, interests and so on. this could also be linked to the idea of how social media can be used. depending on time and occupancy, if a person likes photography... they can be allocated to an available space within the building that has others with the similar interest. or even if they do the same subject... they will be allocated a space that would be filled with their classmates. thus, a system that analyses certain information and checks certain criteria to help you find a space within a building. with this in mind, if a building is full of students and no study spaces.. it would also save time and effort for the student to find a space to study. this could also help students know which staff members are 'in' on a particular day. through this proposed system.. it combines digital information/architecture with physical architecture... through the use of data from social media (or something similar) and spaces available in a building.. it helps us better interact with the building and its spaces, better utilize the building for energy consumption, and provides accurate data in how spaces are really used. although there are some issues such as privacy... its something that has sparked my interest.
  
  
• how can we analyse and interpret spaces/areas in the city to help us better understand how to improve them? i want to study the way in how the public use certain spaces or how often they occupy spaces. for example, if there is an area in the uni which is not being used or occupied as much.. how can we use this information to better improve the uni? what if there were too many people occupying the Quad? could we use this 'empty' space to design new seating areas for eating? how can we use technology in this sense? i would like to see whether i can use visualization and possibly social media/online means as a form of understanding how we can better use spaces. we can use technology such as the 'check-in' app within facebook to see where people are most. this can help us analyse data and understand where we can further improve other spaces depending on the 'needs' of the public. if we could visualize crowd density we can gain a visual understanding of what spaces planners can work on. i think we can use the idea of visualization to help generate thinkings about this topic. it can be in the form of real time or computer generated images which can show density within a set area.
  
  
• can online activity be used to digitally 3d a building? what i've been thinking is if we're able to create usable 3d models from 2d drawings... are we able to create 3d models from other sources such as online activity? the 3d model is not to create an exact replicate of the actual building but to show other information. information such as which areas do people mainly use the internet.. by obtaining this data... it would be possible to create a 'digital' space or building. a problem that i was able to come up with was the indication of where certain wifi hotspots were. since wifi is 'invisible' to us... how can we exactly know where is the best spot to be on the network? we can use this data of online activity to approximately map out the best wifi connection spaces. although it may not be a physical space... it may be a digital space (a space that can be defined by technology and data). this concept can help us view spaces in a whole new way as understand how there can be both digital space and physical space.
  

further brainstorm: visualization

i know that this area has been over-done a lot in the past years. however, i'd like to think of new ways of visualization and how to point out certain thoughts and ideas. visualization is a form of presenting ideas, through images, animation, interactivity, data and etc. i find that another problem with this area is that it has somewhat been narrowed in what it can do. can it show something else? can we use it for a form of action to something? can we create a new level of interactivity for it? i don't think we're limited to the technology we have... i think that with the technology we have, we're able to create and think of new ways to utilize them.