While we crafted a convincing simulation of the interaction with switches (sensors), projectors and amplifiers (actuators), we developed also a feasible solution to the technology we would use in the real world. Even though we believe that our proposal would work, we would have needed a longer prototyping phase on-site. Indeed, we realized that prototyping the installation means to redefine and adjust all those details that make interactions perceivable and believable in the physical world.
Understanding what could be context-fitting, economical, and easy-to-use technology took us some time. Choosing from different options from EAS systems (like those at the exits of shops, installed in order to prevent robbery) to RFID tags, we finally opted for accelerometer, compass and Bluetooth.
On one hand, each user would have a key, and the prepared installation-key Bluetooth unique code would identify a user when proceding towards the installation. The accelerometer inside the key would communicate with the system the acceleration of the user and therefore the preceding guide would adjust its speed according to the user. The guide would start from a minimum speed previously defined. The compass is used in order to understand the direction of the user.
We know that the engineering of data from an accelerometer in small spaces is quite complex, but that it could be possible to understand in which one of the three axes there is a relevant acceleration and calulate it. We discarded other options, such as infrared sensors because the user would have to wear the key outside his or her clothes in order to activate the installation: we thought that in this way part of the mood and how the user interacts with shortcuts in the city would have changed in a completely different direction from what we were designing.
On the other hand, the actuators responding to the key are pretty much the same as those in the prototype: footsteps projected and footfall sounds from amplifiers. We realize that such things might be vandalized, but such behaviour is a risk for any public installation.
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