very good benches
olivia prior
Project Description
“Very Good Benches” is a project which exaggerates the ideas of "smartness" in technology through a series of benches which are very good at offering seats to the public. The benches compete by beckoning people to sit on them through the use of audio and light. Wheels and handles are included for people to move the benches into different configurations and spaces. This movement prompts play and further interaction with the benches. Each bench senses participants sitting on them using variable resistors made of out e-textile materials such as velostat and conductive fabric. This data is used to compare the benches within the network. If a bench has fewer “sits” than others it will increase its effort to encourage someone to sit. This work examines networked objects in the urban environment to challenge notions of optimization and efficiency within smart technology.
BIO
Olivia Prior is an interdisciplinary artist, designer and software developer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Victoria and is currently a Masters of Design candidate in the Digital Futures program at OCADU. Her practice includes physical computing and wireless networking. Her most recent work provides perceived personalities to a networked group of benches through radio communication. Olivia focuses on creating anthropomorphized works that relate to the body through playful gestures and draw attention to our interactions with technology.