Looking at the trail going through the area near the Old State House, it flows in a fairly linear fashion. It comes up along the side, cuts in front of the entrance to the State subway stop on the Orange Line. then cuts through the main intersection via crosswalks and onward to Fanueil Hall. One observation I had seen when looking at the surrounding area. a lot of vendors have set themselves up either right on top of, or right on the freedom trail line. I unfortunately do not have a picture of this at the moment. But this was happening not just near the Old State House, but down near Faneuil Hall and the markets, even more vendors were set up right on the Freedom Trail. This can attest to a sort of blending of the modern and the historical of the Freedom Trail by allowing the walkers along the trail to see the historical sites and experience more modern foods along the way.
Another thing that I had noticed about the Old State House area was that a lot of the walkers on the freedom trail really only went into the middle of the intersections and took a picture of the front of the state house instead of actually going inside of the state house. This could be because when people are walking along the freedom trail the entrance to the Old State House isnt terribly obvious. If anything the entrance to the subway station is more obvious than the entrance to the historical part of the area. A use of the tags could be to point the walkers in the right direction to actually see the entrance to the State House.

figure ground facades

Breaking it down by age.

So I'm creating a network of trails by age group. Blue is for adults and seniors. Green is for young adults ages 12-20. Yellow is for children. If anyone has suggestions, questions, or comments, please let me know.

NorthEnd networking

I have created a series of diagrams that locate several known and not so well known locations in the North End. The second image is how the nodes link to each other diagrammatically to form a path. In this case there are two paths that can be taken to follow just the landmarks or to wander through to the lesser known spots. The pink spots that are being called off are just the few spots that I know about as of now. I intend to interview more members of the neighborhood to try and find all of the small underground places that the locals go to. It is this element that is considered the human effect in travelling. When travelling it is best to ask someone for good locations. In this case I will eliminate the need for human interaction in order to provide destinations and attractions to the tourists. The last image shows what a full networked web would look like when more places are discovered and linked to.





The end goal is to create a digital tourguide that replaces the everyday local in the North End. There is also a North End tour company on Hanover St. that charges close to 50 bucks to walk you around the neighborhood. People liked what they saw but feel it costs too much money. This should alleviate that problem, and add a dynamic sense of discovery to the experience that is completely lost when being led by a human tour guide in a large group. Individually you can experience things how you want to experience them without the constraints of the guided tour. These are reviews of just two of the original pink starred locations (the two places I know about now.)

DiMo Puzzle #2

Since depth was the main culprit (or at least I think so) in why Puzzle #1 didn't work, I decided to start on another that would allow some experimentation with depth to gain a better understanding of its implications:

components: grid, stand, pegs








grid/stand assembly w/ pegs














view of partially completed assembly. the perspective distortion is evident here and makes me wonder if it would be possible to easily fabricate the puzzle to compensate for this.






So the grid/stands are going to be painted white, and the pegs will have one end (the round only) painted white and the other painted black. This way one can change the orientation of the pegs to correspond to the fore/aft value in the code. I'll be picking up more material tomorrow to finish it with, so hopefully be the end of the day Friday it'll be either done or close to.

Working on the grid assembly reminded me of two childhood games: Connect Four and Lite-Brites. Both could be used as a model for playing with codes, although the Lite Brite might seem to be too closely related to the Mooninite scare for Amir's taste

I also figured out a way to make the sliding tile pieces as discussed in class, just need to get some MDF board to make those out of. The mathematics of the fifteen puzzle (a variation of the standard sliding puzzle) are pretty interesting, and worth reading about here.

Experimentation is very exciting, good or bad

Great work Aaron! It is important for us to figure out as many ways as possible for us to do coding as early in the process as possible.

DiMo puzzle #1

Finished model w/ Sprint phone for scale








I scrapped the plexi/marker idea because I saw it as an easy way to a result, so instead I made the horizontal and vertical pieces out of small square stock. Each direction is on a different plane, supported by the frame that is inset into the cover piece.



Opened puzzle. I still need to get the right hardware to attach the cover to the hinges, but at this point I'm willing to let it sit as because a couple screws isn't worth riding my bike on Melnea Cass Blvd.





The code doesn't work however. The shadows created by the horizontal/vertical pieces ruin the contrast between the fore/aft elements. I tried taking the code with a variety of lighting situations but it just didn't work. On to the next experiment!

keeping track

Is it at all possible to have to 2d posts store information on line as you sing in and scan it, it would ask you for your name, or where you are from. So it would keep track of all the people that scanned it. In a way it would be a like a guest book that you sign when you go to a museum or something. I think it would be interesting to look back at the end or even as you scan it, and see who else was here before you.

problems with Connexto?

I can't use the login that was provided by Amir to generate codes, keeps coming up as invalid. Anyone else having this problem or is it me?

King's Chapel

I went to visit King's Chapel and performed a little experiment with the phones given to us. I was given permission by the director to use the space for the duration of the project and actually put the 2D codes to the test. During my visit, I was experimenting the proportion of the code and the distance needed to scan the code. The space itself is a little cramped with only (approx) four foot walkways and many people walking around. The chapel already has a system of designated areas where information is given. There about 20 marked areas, but it is not very organized in the means of circulation. I took a lot of pictures, which I can show, but I need to go back and investigate more because I did not have a lot of time. I also decided investigated how one could scan the code from the exterior of the building and the sidewalk. I seemed to notice that many people were looking at the code when I stood a good distance away taking pictures.

postage code

It makes complete sense when you think about it: in a small amount of real estate you have access to sending/receiving addresses, dates, postage rates, etc. I'm sure that USPS has a way of updating this information, so that every time a package is scanned at a new location on its way to its destination, the history of the movement of the package is included in the code.

encoded branding

not sure if this will work because I don't have a phone to check it with, so if someone could do that for me it would be rad.

I was thinking about how we could involve some sort of branding into the code, rather than adjacent to. then I remembered the semapedia codes we had talked about in class, and how they had a chunk of the code covered by their advertisement and they still worked. Its my understanding that the code system is made so that parts can be missing and the information can still be delivered to the computer. Wanted to work on this last night, but since the school network was down I didn't have a chance, so this morning while at home I bumped this out. basically I took the DiMo code that Ashely posted earlier and added/changed pixels as needed to fit a rudimentary 'dimo' into the code.

some codes to think about

http://mobile.yelp.com/biz/uYqizPy4eUSpwOha0RkVPg

http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=theater&id=69
(for those without the phones)

Heres a site I found while looking for food reviews in the area I needed. I thought it was intersting not only because it has all the reviews but the map link seems to work really well. I also found movie times :)

DiMo Blog code

This 2D code is linked to our blog page.

Can multiple mosaics create code?

Here are some works of Chuck Close. He uses multiple mosiacs that may seem out of focus from upclose but if the viewer backs up the image will unreveal itself. This may be one way we may try to munipulate our codes.


Images were taken from www.mediabistro.com and http://www.philipglass.com/images/compositions/a-musical-portrait-of-chuck-close.jpg

DiMo Code!

North End project synopsis

The North End is a tight knit community that has several major nodes and places of importance historically, and as far as contemporary tourism is concerned. However when tourists travel to the North End whether walking freely or walking the Freedom Trail, they often get lost and cannot locate their destinations. A long time resident of North Square where Paul Revere’s house is located said he continuously has to point out PR’s house even though the people are standing in front of it. The goal of this specific project is to provide tourists with a visually aided set of directions to help guide them through the area. Directions, as well as pictures of what to look for will be included in the website. Placement of the code is somewhat sketchy at the moment because as the issue stands now, it seems that it will have to be done discreetly and “under the radar.” All of the nodes in the North End are close enough to include in one project with additional “support” locations as well. No other project has really included the landmarks in the North End so this one website will help to connect them all.

tagging method

For my Freedom Trail tagging project, I plan on going to the Massachusetts State House point of the trail. For one thing, the state house is very visible from most of the Commons and surrounding streets and once you are in front of it you can look over a wide area of Boston because its very high up. It is also (obviously) the central point of the Massachusetts state government. There are two methods I may use to tag this spot, I haven’t decided which one to use. I may end up doing both.

Method 1.
I would take advantage of the views from various sides of the State House and place tags on objects adjacent to a view of a particular area of the city. The link from the tag might say something about a part of that view like a building or section of the city. For example a view of the Back Bay area my be tagged with links to various web pages that talk about the history of Back Bay –how it was planned, filled in, developed, etc.

Method 2.
I would use the governmental significance of the State House and place tags that link to various other municipal buildings in the nearby area. I would then place tags on those buildings as well that do the same thing. In this way I would create a tagged network of all municipal buildings in the area. If this were to continue there would be a tagged network of all the municipal buildings in the city.

Those are just a couple ideas for how I might go about this project. These ideas may be added to, changed, or combined as I get more into it.

Zander

North End transformer!

This process shows the transformation of the North End figure ground into a 2D Code. Possible logic to use for creating the codes.

Park Street Church Code

This is my idea for the arrangement of information on the Park Street Church code. I know it will be expanded and changed, but it's a start. I am still not sure on the physical placement of the code, there are not too many options for signage on the corner, but perhaps on the fence to the burial ground next door.

Human Ecology

Who uses the site? What is their purpose? And when do they use this site? These questions begin bringing up spatial concepts for any particular site. The morphology of a site is the study of the form, shape, and structure of the environment and has to be paid close attention to. Hanover street is a dynamic axis, passage, and or node, lined with mixed-use developments which act as multi-purpose destinations. These buildings offer a variation of public and private space such as shops, offices, and living spaces. Human ecology is a very important factor in the sculpting of space. How do people actually use the builings and outdoor spaces that occupy the land on and around which they inhabit? Many people use this street as a means of passage from the land to water. Others may use it as meeting place. This street acts as a place for celebrations of events. This site is occupied by varying age groups all throughout the day and night.

Digital Urban Blog

DiMo-relevant blog:

http://digitalurban.blogspot.com

A few pics from spring break

Here are a couple images from spring break I thought related to the class, though a little off topic of the Freedom Trail which will make up the majority of this blog.

Team 2: collect/curate people's testimonies (Post 1)

To begin my analysis, I went to the information center in Boston Common at the beginning of the trail. My objective was to analyze the area and see what could be done to expand on peoples’ interests in the area. I approached ten groups of people who went to the information center, making the assumption that they were either unfamiliar with the area, or interested in following the Freedom Trail. The answers that I am providing below are derived from the answers of each group.

Questions:

Question 1: Have you come to this area to see the freedom trail, or are you interested in touring the freedom trail within the near future?
Answer: 6 groups – yes, 4 groups – no

Question 2: Have you been to the Freedom Trail before?
Answer: 4 groups – yes (2 from each group above), 6 groups – no

Question 3: Where are you from?
Answer: 3 groups – Greater Boston area, 5 groups – Out of state, in the United States, 2 groups – Out of state, outside of the United States

Question 4: If you have been to the Freedom Trail before, what was your reaction, what did you like and what did you dislike?
Answer: Composed of the 4 groups that have previously toured the trail: Likes included learning about the history of the city, seeing many of the famous sites in Boston, and having an alternative to a guided tour. Dislikes included where the trail ends, leaving you in a remote part of Boston with no easy way to travel back besides retracing your steps. Dislikes also included a narrow-minded approach to Boston’s history, only focusing on one period in time, the Revolutionary War era.

Question 5: If you have not been to the Freedom Trail before, what attracted you to follow the trail?
Answer: Composed of the 6 groups that have not been to the Freedom Trail: Expectations include learning about the city’s rich history, seeing why Boston is so unique, and seeing the sights that the city has to offer. 2 groups had no expectations but were told that the Freedom Trail is a must by friends and family.

Question 6: What types of sites do you hope to see/do you wish were along the trail that are not currently points of interest on the trail-map?
Answer: Places to stop and rest like cafes and restaurants, and areas to sit and “people-watch.” The exception to this is the Quincy Market area. Sites that show more about Boston’s more recent history. The Public Garden (mentioned by 2 groups in particular) and the waterfront (mentioned by a group that has not yet traveled along the trail).

Question 7: How far would you be willing to deviate from the trail to see a point of interest in Boston? 1/8 mile, ¼ mile, ½ mile, ¾ mile, 1 mile? Please answer this as if you were planning to walk the entire trail, from the starting point to the USS Constitution, in one day.
Answer: 5 groups: ¼ mile, 4 groups: ½ mile, 1 group: ¾ mile

Question 8: In order for you to see an important site off the trail, would you want to return to the same point that you left the trail from, or would you rather return further along the trail, possibly missing one of the current 16 points of interest?
Answer: 2 groups: We’d rather return to the point that we left the trail from, 4 groups: as long as we get back to the trail, we can always backtrack to a missed point of interest, 2 groups: we’d be willing to miss a point of interest as long as we get back on the trail. We’d treat is as an alternative route. 2 groups: not sure.

Question 9: What brought you to Boston, especially with the cold weather right now?
Answer: 3 groups: day trip/just out and about, we already live in the area. 1 group: business trip, taking an extra day because it’s our first time to really see the city. 2 groups: pleasure trip, beating the school breaks. 1 group: we let the kids choose where they wanted to go, and they had been learning about the Revolutionary War in school (both kids in 4th grade). 1 group: we couldn’t afford a honeymoon to Mexico. 2 groups: we love the city and come often.

Question 10: What is your favorite point of interest on the Freedom Trail? If you haven’t walked the freedom trail before, which point are you most interested in seeing?
Answer: 1 group: Paul Revere House, 3 groups: Quincy Market area, 2 groups: USS Constitution, 1 group: the State House, 1 group: the Old State House, 1 group: the Old South Meeting House, 1 group: Old North Church

Quick Note: I was very surprised at the diversity of people’s interests for points on the site. I expected to get many more answers for Quincy Market, and fewer for other areas.

Incorporating the barcode technology: I believe that we must focus on the interests of the people before we can figure out exactly how to incorporate our technology. We should focus on the answers to questions 6, 7, and 8, and question 10 may be especially relevant to analyze which sites we might be able to bypass. I believe that if we develop the barcode so that it can be placed on the ground, on the red line itself, it could be an effective way to catch people’s attention. Those who are following the trail will be looking down at the line often to be sure that they are going in the right direction. Children often attempt to walk exactly on the line, balancing themselves as if they’re walking on a balance beam. Although I’m unsure of the durability of our barcodes, this would also eliminate the issue of defacing the sites by placing stickers on the gates of cemeteries and on the sides of buildings.

Using the technology to our advantage: I propose that we treat the “trail extension” that we are creating as a scavenger hunt of sorts. I believe that we should put a sticker on the trail that directs the to a hypertext asking them if they’re interested in, for example, a restaurant. If they say yes, we ask them what kind of restaurants, and when they choose, we ask them how far they would like to walk. We then give them directions, without actually telling them what the name of the restaurants is. This is ultimately expandable (the blogging idea that we’ve touched on in class) as people can add new restaurants with new directions, creating a web of information available on the phone. We can do the same type of thing to direct people to the public garden, or the Charles River, and any other sites that people may be interested in. At this particular site, I would also like to consider Downtown Crossing, the Hatch Shell, and possibly Commonwealth Avenue as far as the Prudential Center’s observation deck (perhaps even by the Green Line which is the oldest subway system in the United States). We would probably need a durable material to make these out of since they are on the ground. 3M makes vinyl wraps for use on surfaces like this. I used to coordinate installations for them at Massport, and they can withstand foot traffic for up to a year. They would probably be removed during the winter by shovels, etc. but are relatively cheap to replace.

hello from terry

yay, i'm in!