Syllabus

Course Description

The goal of the Spatial Lab is to explore space perception and interaction through digital technologies. This course provides production skills and processes for projects in Core Studio: Space. How can we read and write to our known environment? What new spaces can we create? How the distance can change our perception?

Students will learn to fabricate and prototype physical installations and objects, as well as expand their knowledge and application of programming and physical computing for interactive environments, objects and processes. Students evolve their understanding of production and trouble shooting and develop their own skills and perspectives. Students will experiment with sensors to track the human body, its movements and gestures, learn to collect and visualize large data sets. Students will work on two projects approaching the idea of surveillance.

Surveillance

Data → Screen → Print

Project 1: Inner Space

Create an interactive work tracking data from a small space (room, elevator, stairs etc.). The data must be localized and be part of the small space you have chosen. They can be tracked from bodies (movement, face detection, sensors, voices, etc.), from the space itself (noise, light, temperature, videos, photos, etc.) or from the local network (piratebox, connection packages, etc.). Once the data have been collected, find a way to create a visualization of them, and to print them. The project must cover the topic of surveillance. It must maintain a certain coherence from the data to the print, and deal with an interesting subject exploring the idea of surveillance in a close space. The project may be produced individually or in groups. All work must be presented and documented.

Project 2: Outer space

Create an interactive work tracking data from a distance space (real or virtual one). The data can be tracked from internet (social networks for example), from audio and video streams or from “world data” (weather, wind, rain, planes traffic, tides, gps data etc.). Once the data have been collected, find a way to create a visualization of them, and to print them. The project must cover the topic of surveillance. The project must maintain a certain coherence from the data to the print, and deal with an interesting subject exploring the idea of surveillance in a distance space. The project may be produced individually or in groups. All work must be presented and documented.

Learning Outcomes

Understand technical approaches to sensing spaces and the body evidenced through class participation and completion of course assignments
Advance skills in programming and electronics by extending and experimenting with code examples from class and by researching and developing algorithms and/or electronic circuits
Effectively communicate project ideas evidenced through project presentations
Effectively communicate project outcomes evidenced by online documentation
Further develop a point of view on technology’s role in art and design evidenced through creative approaches to assignments and projects
Demonstrate the ability to conceive and develop original work that integrates technical approaches with theoretical development evidenced by successful completion of individual/group projects
Organize and manage project development by setting realistic project goals and developing a work schedule
Collaborate and organize shared work through group work and assignments