Cumincad : CUMINCAD Papers : Search Results

CumInCAD is a Cumulative Index about publications in Computer Aided Architectural Design
supported by the sibling associations ACADIA, CAADRIA, eCAADe, SIGraDi, ASCAAD and CAAD futures

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_id	acadia07_146
id	acadia07_146
authors	Angulo, Antonieta
year	2007
title	Ubiquitous Training of Visual-Spatial Skills: On the Development of Mobile Applications Using Handheld Devices
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.146
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 146-155
summary	This research project seeks to develop m-learning applications that provide training in visual-spatial skills using wireless handheld mobile devices (e.g. PDAs and cellular phones). The paper acknowledges the role of visual-spatial competence as fundamental in science and most creative endeavors, including its critical role in architectural design. It also recognizes that there is a substantial amount of anecdotal evidence suggesting that undergraduate students in architecture have serious limitations in applying visual-spatial skills for design activities. A potential solution to this problem is envisioned through the introduction of extra-curricular learning activities that are ubiquitous and learner-centered. The suggested m-learning applications will include a set of instructional modules making use of media-rich representations (graphics and animations) for conveying the nature of 3-D spaces. As a first step toward reaching this development, a prototype was created and used for testing learning strategies. This experiment provided evidence regarding improvements to specific aspects of the students’ visual-spatial competency, and it also collected qualitative feedback regarding the students’ level of satisfaction about the learning experience. The paper provides recommendations for a future implementation of the beta version, including the learning strategy, content authoring, publishing, deployment, and criteria for the selection of the most accessible mobile device.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	caadria2007_021
id	caadria2007_021
authors	Chiu, Mao-Lin; Guan-Cheng Lee
year	2007
title	Spatial Cypin: Smart Interface Design for Context Awareness and Event Reminding
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2007.x.c6j
source	CAADRIA 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] Nanjing (China) 19-21 April 2007
summary	The emergence of ubiquitous computing and smart technologies become the impetus for novel spatial design in the information era. Smart living interface becomes important for usercentric spatial design. This paper depicts the research framework and demonstrates the design concept “Spatial Cypin” as a metaphor of smart living interface in a ubiquitous computing environment that reminds users of events. “Mind Garden” is created as a test-bed for representing the memory landscape. The prototype and findings are reported.
series	CAADRIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	acadia07_158
id	acadia07_158
authors	Oatman, Devin; Senagala, Mahesh
year	2007
title	Am I? Architecture of Ambient Intelligence
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.158
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 158-163
summary	In its purest state, Ambient Intelligence is smart computing whose presence is not apparent to the human senses except in response and actions. The original intentions and origins of Ambient Intelligence began with the need for more efficient and unobtrusive management of our everyday activities. Synonymous with ubiquitous computing, Ambient Intelligence, or AmI, consists of: UbiComp: the integration of microchips and computers into everyday objects; UbiComm: the ability of these objects to communicate with each other and the user; and Intelligent User Interface which allows inhabitants of the environment to interact with the system with human gestures (Riva 2005). Put together, these components are basically personifi ed computers. The key factor in Ambient Intelligent communities is that the microscopic computers are aware of their surroundings and their purpose just as human beings are. With the ability to self-program and react to new software, they eliminate the need for humans to program them, decreasing maintenance and programming time. These concepts and technologies raise important questions. What happens when the system disappears? Are we ready as a society to see a certain degree of power taken away from us by anticipatory computers? This short paper will provide an overview of AmI and why it is important for architects to embrace, explore, and engage this emerging technology.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 08:00

_id	1e89
id	1e89
authors	Paulini, Mercedes; Schnabel, Marc Aurel
year	2007
title	Surfing the city: An architecture for context-aware urban exploration
source	Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Advances in Mobile Computing and Multimedia, Jakata, Indonesia, December 3-5, ISBN978-3-85403-230-4, pp. 31-40
summary	Web surfing, the act of following links of interest with no pre-defined search goal, is a paradigm that can be translated to the physical realm of urban exploration. With mobile computing technology and its supporting infrastructure becoming ever more ubiquitous, a user's digital device can be transformed into a portal that connects their physical environment with the virtual, providing instant access to a plethora of information that can influence and guide their interactions with the city. This paper describes the technical aspects of a context-aware system for urban exploration based on the paradigm of web surfing. An implementation is presented that demonstrates a browsing style of interaction with an urban environment through context-based navigational prompts.
keywords	mobile computing; context-aware; urban interaction
series	other
type	normal paper
email
last changed	2007/12/17 05:17

_id	ijac20075106
id	ijac20075106
authors	Puusepp, Renee; Coates, Paul
year	2007
title	Spatial Simulations with Cognitive and Design Agents
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 1, pp. 100-114
summary	Agent based design systems could provide useful decision help for architects working on spatial planning tasks that involve large number of actors or deal with complex urban situations. These systems are especially helpful in bridging the gap between concrete design proposals and high-level design abstractions such as frequency and flow diagrams. Every attempt to use computational design agents in the planning process will automatically raise many fundamental issues about spatial perception and representation of the environment. The paper discusses these issues in the light of some recent agent based simulations. Two case studies are presented in order to demonstrate different uses of computational agents in urban design. The first study shows how a simple agent-based design system placed in an urban context becomes a creative production tool. The second one reveals analytical capabilities of an agent system in urban environments.
series	journal
email
last changed	2007/06/14 12:11

_id	acadia07_130
id	acadia07_130
authors	Satpathy, Lalatendu; Mathew, Anijo Punnen
year	2007
title	Smart Housing for the Elderly: Understanding Perceptions and Biases of Rural America
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.130
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 130-137
summary	It is commonly acknowledged that ‘smart’ environments, interactive architecture and ‘smart’ homes will define the next cutting edge in architectural research. Most critics agree that one of the first problems that ‘smart’ homes will help to address is that of spiraling costs of healthcare and aging-in-place. This may be true for urban settings where there is the financial feasibility for such technologies but what about rural America? It has been conclusively proven that rural America suffers from a lack of healthcare (delivery and access). Prior research (Mathew 2005) has also established that a rural home is different from an urban home. Will technologies designed for the urban home work in a rural setting? And do rural people carry the same attitudes and biases towards technology? This paper continues our research in the design of ‘smart’ rural environments. It summarizes findings from focus group studies conducted in rural communities that help us to understand attitudes of people towards ‘smart’ technology. We will use these findings to examine the feasibility of ubiquitous computing and ‘smart’ spaces in rural areas. In conclusion, we will present guidelines to help designers in the creation of technology to augment healthy aging in rural home settings.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:57

_id	ascaad2007_035
id	ascaad2007_035
authors	Al-Ali, A.I.
year	2007
title	Readiness for the Use of Technology for effective learning via the vds: Case of the United Arab Emirates
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 439-456
summary	Review of the literature indicated that today’s knowledge-driven economy demands a workforce equipped with complex skills and attitudes such as problem solving, meta-cognitive skills, critical thinking and lifelong learning. Such skills can be acquired if learning and teaching are guided by the constructivist and cognitive learning theories. In particular, the constructivist approach emphasises effective learning processes based on learning by doing and collaboration. This approach is congruent with use of technologies, such as Virtual Design Studio (VDS), for the purpose of architecture education in design courses, but such use is lacking in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is thus important to assess the extent to which the constructivist and cognitive theories are implemented in teaching design courses in the Architecture schools of the UAE. It is also important to assess the effectiveness of employing technology in general and VDS in particular in implementing these theories. The author intends to study the relationship between effective learning on one hand and using VDS in implementing the constructivist and cognitive approaches on the other hand. Thus, the author conducted a preliminary study to gain a basic understanding of the difficulties, approaches, attitudes, perceptions, and motivation related to the learning of design in architecture schools in the UAE. Second, the investigation was designed to assess the extent to which the students would be interested in the use of sophisticated technology in the teaching and learning environment in the UAE architecture education schools in order to achieve effective learning. The study has been conducted in the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). Methodology used for this was the focus group method. In addition to the focus group interviews with the UAEU students, unstructured individual interviews with lecturers from UAEU and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have been carried out. Data analysis showed that students were not satisfied with the current teaching methods based on traditional lectures. It was concluded that students were ready to practice effective learning of design via the intermarriage of VDS and the constructivist and cognitive approaches. An ambiguity that remained was whether students were ready for assessment methods which are consistent with the constructivist approach.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	sigradi2007_af109
id	sigradi2007_af109
authors	Angulo, Antonieta
year	2007
title	Mobile Learning Applications using Handheld Devices: Ubiquitous training of visual-spatial skills [Aplicaciones de Aprendizaje utilizando dispositivos móviles: Entrenamiento ubicuo de habilidades espaciales visuales]
source	SIGraDi 2007 - [Proceedings of the 11th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] México D.F. - México 23-25 October 2007, pp. 205-209
summary	This research seeks the development of mobile learning applications that provide ubiquitous training in visual-spatial skills using wireless handheld mobile devices (i.e. PDA, cell phones). The paper reports about the findings of a first stage in which the application targeted the handling of spatial representations and the qualitative understanding of 3D spaces. Evidence was collected regarding effectiveness of the instructional strategy related to specific aspects of the students’ visual-spatial competency and obtained qualitative feedback regarding the students’ level of satisfaction about the learning experience using the initial prototype. The paper provides recommendations for future implementations of an m-learning beta version.
keywords	M-learning; visual-spatial skills; handheld devices; ubiquitous training; architectural design
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 09:47

_id	ecaade2007_129
id	ecaade2007_129
authors	Balakrishnan, Bimal; Kalisperis, Loukas N. ; Muramoto, Katsuhiko
year	2007
title	Implications of Representation-Presentation Distinction in Developing a Presentation Environment for CAAD
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2007.133
source	Predicting the Future [25th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-0-9541183-6-5] Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 26-29 September 2007, pp. 133-139
summary	Computer mediated environments are increasingly used for design communication to bridge the gap between geographically and temporally separated stakeholders. We look at the design process, its communication through computer mediated environments, and stress the need to recognize the subtle distinction between representation and presentation in this process. Building on representation-presentation distinction, the case for a multi-modal design presentation environment is made and the challenges involved in developing such an environment are discussed. We conclude by demonstrating a prototype of such a presentation environment.
keywords	Design presentation, representation-presentation distinction, digital design presentation environments, hypermedia
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	acadia07_174
id	acadia07_174
authors	Bontemps, Arnaud; Potvin, André; Demers, Claude
year	2007
title	The Dynamics of Physical Ambiences
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.174
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 174-181
summary	This research proposes to support the reading of physical ambiences by the development of a representational technique which compiles, in a numerical interface, two types of data: sensory and filmic. These data are recorded through the use of a portable array equipped with sensors (Potvin 1997, 2002, 2004) as well as the acquisition of Video information of the moving environment. The compilation of information is carried out through a multi-media approach, by means of a program converting the environmental data into dynamic diagrams, as well as the creation of an interactive interface allowing a possible diffusion on the Web. This technique, named APMAP/Video, makes it possible to read out simultaneously spatial and environmental diversity. It is demonstrated through surveys taken at various seasons and time of the day at the new Caisse de dépôt et de placement headquarters in Montreal which is also the corpus for a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) research grant on Environmental Adaptability in Architecture (Potvin et al. 2003-2007). This case study shows that the technique can prove of great relevance for POEs (Post Occupancy Evaluation) as well as for assistance in a new design project.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	sigradi2007_af04
id	sigradi2007_af04
authors	Briones, Carolina; Ava Fatah gen. Schieck; Chiron Mottram
year	2007
title	LEDs Urban Carpet, a socializing interactive interface for public environments [LEDs Urban Carpet, una instalación interactiva para sociabilizar en el espacio público]
source	SIGraDi 2007 - [Proceedings of the 11th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] México D.F. - México 23-25 October 2007, pp. 404-408
summary	The purpose of this paper is to explore the type of social interactions that can be generated when a technological platform is introduced in a public environment. Here we present an interactive urban installation, which use a body-input as a form of a non-traditional user interface. Its aim is to enhance novel experiences that can enrich interactions between people nearby, sharing the same space and the same playful atmosphere. The prototype incorporates a grid of lights that dynamically generates patterns according to pedestrian’s position over the carpet. The installation was tested in various locations around the City of Bath, UK.
keywords	Urban computing; Interactive installation; Body-input interface; Social interaction
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 09:47

_id	ascaad2007_043
id	ascaad2007_043
authors	Chen, G.-Y. M.
year	2007
title	Tagging Your Body Virtually : Represent a place making process with social network
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 543-558
summary	This research focuses on the virtual environment of place making. In this paper we would like to emphasize that the place making should be stressed collective views in order to obtain the design application of possibilities. However, in past researches there has been no study that tried to collect the collective views by digital ways. Accordingly, this paper proposes a response thought the Spatial Intention. It could be used to represent the human of body experience. The "moving" and "standing" are appropriate to two main considerations. Both of these could be connected to the action of "focus" and "choice." these leads to a sequential relationship of place production. The positive significance of the spatial intention lies in the convertibility of physical experience could be implied with a specific understanding. It also could be used to mold the place of knowledge structure. Thereby in order to verify the reliability of the above, we made a social network of virtual environment and used the rapid prototyping method to develop a prototype system. Implementing on the Chinese garden of the actual case, we found that the tag could concentrate as an entire sense in somewhere of place. These tags also could be shared remotely through the social network. Different tags in the sharing mechanism could collage out a place of collective views. This perspective would be used to assist designers to understand the sense of place. It also would be applied to find out the environmental design of possibilities in the future studies.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	ijac20075110
id	ijac20075110
authors	Coyne, Richard; Lucas, Raymond; Li, Jia; Parker, Martin; Lee, John
year	2007
title	Co-operation and Complicity Voices, Robots, and Tricksters in the Digital Marketplace
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 1, pp. 162-175
summary	We advocate the theme of complicity, ahead of co-operation, as a means of understanding complex, interactive digital systems. Our case study of a market precinct known as the Barras, about one mile from the centre of the city of Glasgow, foregrounds the notion of complicity. Market places are characterized not only by co-operation in rule-governed environments, but complicity between actors as a means of breaking rules, working at the boundaries of formal frameworks, avoiding other actors, such as law enforcers, and even working with them in tacitly agreed evasion strategies. We present the human voice (as exercised in the case of market stall holders drawing attention to their wares) as a major medium of complicity. In our application of these ideas we deploy Lego Mindstorms TM RCX robot processing to explore interactions between a mobile sensing robot and simple environmental controls: movements of sliding screens in response to an autonomous mobile sensor. As well as their benign characteristics as co-operating agents, we argue for a consideration of robots as quintessential tricksters, plotting and scheming strategies of survival, evasion and opportunism. Traits that can be employed in the development of useful augmented environments.
series	journal
email
last changed	2007/06/14 12:11

_id	sigradi2007_af79
id	sigradi2007_af79
authors	Dimitrios Christakou, Evangelos; Neander Furtado Silva
year	2007
title	Virtual Environments in simulation inside buildings [Ambientes virtuais na simulação do interior do edifício]
source	SIGraDi 2007 - [Proceedings of the 11th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] México D.F. - México 23-25 October 2007, pp. 253-256
summary	Architects have always wanted to visually simulate internal space before beginning construction. Visualizations through the use of synthetics images, static scenes or animations, are a powerful tool which can contribute to understanding and therefore improve architectural proposals for better environment comfort, and energy efficiency. Real time interactive visualization of changes proposed by the architect during the design is a valuable resource, particularly during the initial phases. However, this type of real-time interactive visualization requires considerable computing power, which places restraints and reduces interactivity.
keywords	Daylight; Real-time interactive visualization; architectural design
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 09:50

_id	ecaade2007_050
id	ecaade2007_050
authors	Donath, Dirk; Böhme, Luis Felipe González
year	2007
title	Constraint-Based Design in Participatory Housing Planning
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2007.687
source	Predicting the Future [25th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-0-9541183-6-5] Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 26-29 September 2007, pp. 687-694
summary	The research presented in this paper deals with the yet unexplored development of a constraint-based design strategy to support participatory housing planning processes in Latin America. The article discusses the implementation criteria of a constraint satisfaction approach to solving the building bulk design problem. This elementary problem to the architecture practice, is concerned with the synthesis of the boundary geometry from the volume, shape and allocation of the building and any part thereof located inside a given zoning lot. A legal solution to a building bulk design problem is a building cubature that complies with all the applicable bulk regulations. The case study applies to the common class of single-family house units produced in Chile and the regulatory framework implemented there. Two different computer implementation criteria are being tested in an ongoing series of trials. The first, and most extensively developed, makes use of Maxon’s XPresso® visual scripting environment to set up a semi-automated controllable design environment that allows to create parametric feature-based 3D models of building bulk solutions. The second approach is currently being tested by using Ilog’s OPL Studio® constraint programming environment to achieve fully automated search and 2D graphic visualization of the complete set of solutions to separate subdomains of the bulk problem.
keywords	Constraint-based design, constraint satisfaction problems, building bulk design, participatory planning, low-income housing
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:55

_id	ijac20075206
id	ijac20075206
authors	Foni, Alessandro E.; Papagiannakis, George; Cadi-Yazli, Nedjma; Magnenat-Thalmann, Nadia
year	2007
title	Time-Dependant Illumination and Animation of Virtual Hagia-Sophia
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 2, pp. 284-301
summary	This paper presents a case study centered on the virtual restitution and virtual life simulation of a highly complex and endangered heritage edifice: the church of Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, Turkey. The goal of this article is to describe the techniques used in order to achieve a real time rendering and animation of the selected space and its characters, as well as to point out the challenges and solutions that such a work implies at different stages in production. Most of these issues are focused on the reconstruction of the architecture of the site; however, in order to achieve an accurate simulation, the social aspect is not to be omitted. The importance of a heritage site resides as well in the historical characters and the social interactions that were taking place there: this information allows a better understanding of the function and the importance of the selected site in connection with the cultural aspects of the life at a certain time. In order to strengthen the feeling of immersion in a heritage edifice virtually restituted, it is important to recreate virtual life and describe the timely evolutionary aspects of the edifice as well.
series	journal
last changed	2007/08/29 16:23

_id	ijac20075304
id	ijac20075304
authors	Geva, Anat; Mukherji, Anuradha
year	2007
title	A Study of Light/Darkness in Sacred Settings: Digital Simulations
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 3, pp. 507-521
summary	Studying light/darkness and sacred architecture reveals that the "holy" light dramatizes the spiritual state and affects the mood of the user in the sacred space. Furthermore, it shows that faith dictates the treatment of light/darkness in the sacred setting as means to enhance the spiritual experience. These two premises were investigated by conducting digital daylight simulations on the Brihadeshvara Hindu Temple (1010 AD) of Tanjore, Tamilnadu, India. This sacred monument, listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, is an intriguing case study since the treatment of the 'holy light' in the temple is actually the treatment of the 'holy darkness'. The simulated values were compared to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) standards. The results demonstrate that digitized simulations can illustrate the significance of light/darkness in sacred settings as a spiritual experience. Moreover, this quantitative investigation can augment the qualitative studies in the field of historic sacred architecture. The work presented here unites and extends some previously published work.
series	journal
email
last changed	2007/11/20 18:06

_id	ascaad2007_021
id	ascaad2007_021
authors	Grasl, T. and C. Kühn
year	2007
title	Situated spatial awareness: Experimenting with spatial concepts for agents
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 253-260
summary	The target of the project is to explore spatial awareness in situated agents. The concepts are tested with exhibition layout as use case and subsumption architecture as cognitive model. The agents in the implementation control the location and orientation of exhibits in a collaborative environment. The paper describes the implementation details and discusses the outcome.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	caadria2007_127
id	caadria2007_127
authors	Gu, Ning; L.F. Gül, M.L. Maher
year	2007
title	Designing within the Design: A Pedagogical Case Study of 3D Virtual Worlds in Design Education
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2007.x.o1v
source	CAADRIA 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] Nanjing (China) 19-21 April 2007
summary	Within most architecture and design schools, 3D virtual worlds are traditionally perceived and used as a CAAD tool for modelling and collaboration. Building on the understanding of virtual worlds as the extension of our physical environments where people can inhabit and participate in a variety of activities, we teach designing virtual worlds as a design subject which considers 3D virtual worlds as a different kind of environment design other than a technical tool for supporting design simulation and collaboration. This paper reports on our teaching experience, as well as discusses the principles for designing and teaching in 3D virtual worlds.
series	CAADRIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	cf2011_p027
id	cf2011_p027
authors	Herssens, Jasmien; Heylighen Ann
year	2011
title	A Framework of Haptic Design Parameters for Architects: Sensory Paradox Between Content and Representation
source	Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures 2011 [Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures / ISBN 9782874561429] Liege (Belgium) 4-8 July 2011, pp. 685-700.
summary	Architects‚Äîlike other designers‚Äîtend to think, know and work in a visual way. In design research, this way of knowing and working is highly valued as paramount to design expertise (Cross 1982, 2006). In case of architecture, however, it is not only a particular strength, but may as well be regarded as a serious weakness. The absence of non-visual features in traditional architectural spatial representations indicates how these are disregarded as important elements in conceiving space (Dischinger 2006). This bias towards vision, and the suppression of other senses‚Äîin the way architecture is conceived, taught and critiqued‚Äîresults in a disappearance of sensory qualities (Pallasmaa 2005). Nevertheless, if architects design with more attention to non visual senses, they are able to contribute to more inclusive environments. Indeed if an environment offers a range of sensory triggers, people with different sensory capacities are able to navigate and enjoy it. Rather than implementing as many sensory triggers as possible, the intention is to make buildings and spaces accessible and enjoyable for more people, in line with the objective of inclusive design (Clarkson et al. 2007), also called Design for All or Universal Design (Ostroff 2001). Within this overall objective, the aim of our study is to develop haptic design parameters that support architects during design in paying more attention to the role of haptics, i.e. the sense of touch, in the built environment by informing them about the haptic implications of their design decisions. In the context of our study, haptic design parameters are defined as variables that can be decided upon by designers throughout the design process, and the value of which determines the haptic characteristics of the resulting design. These characteristics are based on the expertise of people who are congenitally blind, as they are more attentive to non visual information, and of professional caregivers working with them. The parameters do not intend to be prescriptive, nor to impose a particular method. Instead they seek to facilitate a more inclusive design attitude by informing designers and helping them to think differently. As the insights from the empirical studies with people born blind and caregivers have been reported elsewhere (Authors 2010), this paper starts by outlining the haptic design parameters resulting from them. Following the classification of haptics into active, dynamic and passive touch, the built environment unfolds into surfaces that can act as ‚Äúmovement‚Äù, ‚Äúguiding‚Äù and/or ‚Äúrest‚Äù plane. Furthermore design techniques are suggested to check the haptic qualities during the design process. Subsequently, the paper reports on a focus group interview/workshop with professional architects to assess the usability of the haptic design parameters for design practice. The architects were then asked to try out the parameters in the context of a concrete design project. The reactions suggest that the participating architects immediately picked up the underlying idea of the parameters, and recognized their relevance in relation to the design project at stake, but that their representation confronts us with a sensory paradox: although the parameters question the impact of the visual in architectural design, they are meant to be used by designers, who are used to think, know and work in a visual way.
keywords	blindness, design parameters, haptics, inclusive design, vision
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2012/02/11 19:21

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