organisation of the blogggg

hey guys

as i said..i had a look at all weve posted and
this is what we did in general:




research on:


statistics
how many accidents?
which types of vehicles are involved?
which pedestrians are mostly involved?



reasons
- why do accidents happen?
- which fault is it mostly?
- focused on car interior
- pedestrians attention to other stuff like ipod
- why are ped. impatient?
-> psychology of waiting
-> how to visualize time


car technology
- types of car lights in general
- different types of front lights
- car to car
- car to environment
- car interior
-> too much stuff that steals attention
-> ER button
- existing car to car systems
-> "fleetnet" by daimler chrysler
-> "now" network on wheels
-> "willwarn" wireless local danger warning eu project testing networks on the street
-> cellphone positioning data
- enlightener: a thin clear plastic sheet with a concentric surface that can be fittet to car windows
and enhances the visibility of blind spots
- special mirror constructions instead of hightech




environment
- LED road markers
- induction loops
- different road signs: good or bad ones
- signaling at city intersections. signs, traffic lights, markings on the ground bla



technology developments we researched
- zebra stripes with higher visibility reflectors
- Monolithic Microwave integrated circuits (MMICs)
-> light sensors origionally developed for millitary use
- High intensity discharge lighting (HID)
-> type of headlight
- Hellaa - lanechange warning system
- Mazda 626 SensorCar
- Volvo's EyeCar
-> measures where drivers eyes are and adjusts headlights for optimal visibility
- Donnelly VideoMirror Camera Vision System
- philips lumalive
- intelligent mirror
- rfid
- airwave city car
- oled
- inspiration research on light in general




what we've produced
- car to car mindmap
- sketches in general
- busy intersection sketches
- creation of a concrete scenario
-> scenario sketches/ factors/ problems
- future intersection sketches: adress all senses, sandras pole etc
- animations
- your intersection experiment in ny:)

This is what we gotta do

Logistics of built product-Contact manufacturers: (thomas register .com)
-LED-lit monitors (TVs)
-LED maufactures (sizes/spacing/type of wiring/room required)
-timing, chips, etc. -> integrations
-set syntax/rules of intersection timing

Group interaction:
-sensors: what is the point? finalize type, how/when it works
-Lauren + Jenny: pedestrian finder, walkway lighting, etc
-Oz + Hiro: HUD interaction

Presentation:
-order
-finding holes
-explanation/ back-up w/ research

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Yesterday we took pictures of the different proportions of the inner and outer circles of the radial sign at an intersection to observe which ones were or ere not working.

Today we will take pictures of the intersection walk / don't walk cycle so that we can place our ideas for the animated signs in it.

List of things to accomplish by sunday:

1. take picctures of the intersection
2. reward with hot beverage
3. make all animations of circles:
- 3 partial right of way options (complete with L.E.D. placement)
- 1 animation of the finalized walk/don't walk cycle. complete with L.E.D. placement
4. place animations in intersection photos

things we've concluded.

DECISIONS/QUESTIONS for the day:

ticker experience: a-ha moment: ticker rhythm must stay the same at every intersection to keep patience (if each tick mark takes 3 seconds to appear, the pedestrian will become impatient and/or the signal will appear to be broken. we need to create the illusion of a swiftly moving intersection)

XSLOW GIF

size test: to determine optimum viewing size for circular light case, we have created a matrix based on existing measurements of current crosswalk lighted signals. we will test printouts of thirty six variations to determine the most advantageous ratio of walk man to ticker to environment. from here, we will determine the number of leds based on the longest wait/go time we can find.

XMATRIX

led size: determined by perimeter of circular light case divided by number of seconds of longest intersection wait/go time gives us the size of each tick. from here, we will figure out the size of led that will fit in each tick mark. we plan on accounting for extra time in addition to the longest wait/go just to be safe.
reasons for rhythm: tick must happen every second for constant stimulus and constant rhythm universal for all intersections. the second also references the clock and is an innate timing measurement. because tick marks blink every second, tick size varies according to intersection wait/go time frames.
black background: creates maximum contrast between colors and against cityscape. another reason for this is that a color background would be black at night anyway.
CURRENT SIGNALS:
technology behind current boxes: why so thick? what's inside?
color of current boxes: what's significant about school bus yellow? should aesthetics match new street furniture (bus shelters, new stands) from CEMUSA?
back of new boxes: ads? time? weather? blank?

tasks for tonight:
-brainstorm partial right of way
-visit columbus circle
-check lights for manufacturer's info

XCOLUMBUS CIRCLE PHOTO



tasks for next few days:
-time traffic lights
(keep individual logs)

fluoz 3001

fluoz 3000

hi people, more drafts are in progress...

the look

here are some thoughts about the look of the pole




sandy also thought about a waterplay


i was thinking of those ugly acryl cubes for keys or sth where 3D objects like famous buildings etc are inside..maybe we could use this somehow?

maybe this could also be something inspiring?

if its not glossy maybe then frosted like those bottles?

sketches from tonight

hey guys,
here's a summary of what we talked about tonight.
mel, thanks for your words earlier today. in addition to the photos sam posted, they were an inspiration to us. we agreed with them all, but here are the key points we pulled out:
"letting people wait without any information about time etc is a torture method and makes u lose all orientation"
we agree. this is the reason for showing the time elapse graphically and numerically, in addition to introducing partial right of way (sharing the intersection). this was what set the ball rolling for new terms: cross, wait, share instead of go, stop, partial right of way. renaming the terms automatically gives our ideas a more positive and productive outlook--"it's not a race"
"abstract waiting signals need to be learned first"
true. this is why we need to utilize the old symbols that everyone knows and use them to introduce the new symbols.
"put the pedestrian at first -> attention"
great idea. food for thought: here's a video sam found involving bike right of way in portland.


some questions we posed tonight:
why do we need pre-existing symbols? (walking man/hand)
-non-numerical display of time elapse requires reference point
-consistant symbol for visually impaired (color blind)

what are the pros and cons of the methods for time elapse?
NUMERIC SECONDS: PROS
-additional reference point
-historical continuity (familiarity)
-arabic numerals recognized globally
NUMERIC SECONDS: CONS
-may make sign busy or overwhelming (too much info)
-may not be apparent for the disabled: illiterate? dyslexic? visually impaired?

LINEAR BARS:PROS
-shoes ratio of time passed/time remaining clearly
-mimicks zebra stripes
-can make color transitions (better than numeric seconds)
-fits on pre-existing poles
-horizontal or vertical orientation
-certain mystery (ignorance is bliss) to no numbers
-less light/space pollution than current solution
LINEAR BARS:CONS
-consistant fram for inconsistant time (traffic lights vary but time elapse space on all pedestrian lights will be uniform)

RADIAL:PROS
-clear time reference point (start to finish...infinite)
-constant height means constant visability (not hidden by walkers)
-can be installed in place of existing signs
RADIAL: CONS
not streamlined (more light/space pollution than linear bars)



all sketched solutions must fall under one or more of the following construction systems: ORGANIC, RADIAL, LINEAR (examples will be posted by monica later)
and must utilize:
-pre-existing symbols (man/hand)
-red, green, yellow
-how to simply show time elabse
-address "share" mode


oh, and we were inspired by NOOKA watches. as it just so happens, the guy who invented NOOKA is a professor at Parsons. We contacted him tonight and should be recieving a reply within the next few days.

also, sam found out that the L train's timers are simply to make an increase of ridership by making people feel at ease in the station. he has a pdf.

another thing: we need to come up with a symbol for "share"
i tried a standing man but i don't think it's appropriate

please post comments, criticism on the questions, pros, and cons.

talk to you all soon!
rob

ps--we'll be constructing animations fo the next two days. you should have them soon.

Inspiration for Brainstorm

So tonight we got together to brainstorm for several hours. We knew we needed inspiration to come up with a user interface and displays in regard to our subject. In this image there are watches, computer games, electronics and sound waves.
They helped us conceptualize many different things. we totaled around 40 sketches, some small some big. Monica will be posting them later tonight.

some facts about waiting for our concept

- letting people wait without any information about time etc is a torture method and makes u
lose all orientation.
- information makes waiting feel better. -> deflection
- digital info screens in subways in Cgn show countowns and possible technical difficulties ->
if you communicate why a train might be late, passengers are more pleased
- information avoids boredom while waiting
- info need to be varied..think of the same melody while youre waiting on the phone-> uncool
- attitude and mood decide if we consider a waiting situation to be a waiting situation at all->
create comfort
- abstract waiting signlas need to be learned first
- use everything: see (clear, probably different shapes for the lights, friendly colors), listen (not even for blind people), feel (structure on the ground), smell (waiting situations seem to be better and shorter if there is a nice smell in
the air)
- put the pedestrian at first -> attention


drafts and scribbles will follow.

EMERGENCY SKYPE MEETING

GRUPPE FLUOZ: area of focus, problem statement, factors to address

Main Area of Focus:Informing pedestrians
Problem Statement:Because of inadequate signaling information and natural impatience, pedestrians put themselves in danger when crossing the street, waiting to cross the street, and during situations of partial right of way.


Our design solution will provide pedestrians with the appropriate information needed to navigate an urban intersection. We will be working with the current set of symbols and the current architecture of the intersection. Because the pedestrian is better informed in his revived visual environment, he or she may make safety-based judgements. He knows how long he has to wait on the curb before crossing, how long he has to cross, and that he might be sharing the crosswalk with turning cars.

Factors our solution will address:
1. More accurate and quantifiable visual time elapse
-numbers
-graphic representation
-color relevance
2. Partial right of way alert
-strobe
-blink
-symbol
3. Communication with other parts of the system via sensors
-how does the light know there is partial right of way?
-stay with light schedule but still inform
-how do these sensors communicate with hiro/oz/marina/valeria/tobi's group's windshield?

So guys, we have taken everything we've been talking about for the past month and put it into solid written form. This is our template for the rest of the project. Now we need everyone to really focus because we only have TWO MORE WEEKS to FINALIZE this concept. Beginning the week of DECEMBER 1, we must concentrate on fine tuning and presentation. SO, how shall we divide and CONQUER? A SKYPE session is DEFINITELY in order--BEFORE Thursday.

Would sometime between 12pm and 2:30pm on Wednesday November 12 be good for everybody?

Let us know ASAP.

:)

Okay guys, here's my research. I'm a little upset that I can't find information on the specific lights used in NYC (or any other area). The DOT is no help.


GOALS
considerations:

• viewing angle must be no less than 30 degrees

• is guarded from sunlight

• how many years does it last?


heat concern:

• shortens lifespan

• can dim light

• affects color


our light should be:
• Energy-efficient

• Rugged and durable

• Provide sufficient quantity and quality of light for pedestrians to walk safely

• Do not produce light pollution or light trespass

Light pollution/focus
• aim

• lower

• shade


On partial right of way:
Flashing yellow lights mean proceed with care. They require cars to treat them like stop signs. Since drivers already know this signal/rule, it would be easier to implement than a totally new symbol/rule for pedestrians. This source is a wealth of information about turning laws in different countries in regards to red light cameras (will we be using that technology with the sensors?).


Buy a traffic light from China.
Key Specifications/Special Features:

* Materials: PC or aluminum
* Rated power: 8W/unit
* Power consumption: > 8W
* Working voltage: 220V AC±20%
* Frequency: 50 to 60Hz
* Lifespan: up to 50,000 hours
* Can save up to 80 to 90% energy
* Wavelength:
o Red: 620nm
o Yellow: 590nm
o Green: 505nm
* Temperature: -40 to 75°C
* Humidity: > 90%



This graph is part of research done by RPI which has many more graphs for us to utilize for comparison of lumens. Sam, you asked for lumens for LED traffic lights and this is the most legit source I could find. Unfortunately, we're gonna have to interpret a little bit. We should compare this information with the afformentioned traffic light from China. We should also read the .pdf together that is located here.

Two positives about LED traffic lights include gradual burnout (vs. immediate burnout by incandescents) and lifespan of up to ten years (as of 2002). Is there more specific, up to date info? Here are some more stats, but I think we should have more specific stats to a specific size/brand of light...but I can't find any!!!

OLED Technology

History - It dates back to the 1950'6 where researchers at the University de Nancy France produced electroluminescence in organic materials by applying a high voltage ac to crystalline thin films. DOW Chemical Co. followed in the 1960's. it is generally acknowledged that Kodak discovered the first diode OLED in the late 1970's.

Possible Uses - Advancements have been made since then by Kodak and many other companies. the development of P-OLED's light emitting polymers that can be used for display screens with a wide range of colors used for information management, communications and entertainment. Other applications i have read about are the possible uses illuminating room switches, desk drawers, interior lighting on vehicles and underwater lighting. For us underwater lighting would be important because our signage has to be able to withstand forces of nature.

An interesting lamp design by Makoto Tojiki named the Archimedes Dream, is quite cool in showing the luminescence it has to offer, but it seems that it would need to be dark for its glow to really show through.

Lifetime - Some of the products from Cambridge Display Technologies can last from 25,000 to 400,000 hours depending on the amount of cd/[m.sup.2] used. (i am not sure what that means, but i think its a way of measuring how strong the light is, i will be looking further into that)

Part of the problem with flexible OLED technology is that the lifetime of it isn't very long. as seen on youtube videos, they get glitches of lines running horizontally and vertically. although it is a cool technology but it is not as ready for the market as non flexible ones.

Market - Some market research predicts that it will be a 1.1 Billion dollar industry by 2015 for being used for many applications and some Government Funded R&D projects. This is the NEXT BIG thing. In my research, there are several big companies trying to get a handle on this technology for its possible wide use.

Efficiency - The reason why it is so efficient is because it uses no backlight. Most LCD screens need to have a backlight and work by blocking out spots on that backlight to produce the desired display.

With OLED technology, the diode just lights up in its proper place. It is for this reason that you can achieve extremely energy efficient and ultra slim designs.

Take for example Sony's path on using OLED technology for TV Screens. Some that were displayed at a show were 10mm thick for a 27" and 3mm thick for the 11" tv's. They have a 1,000,000 to 1 ratio meaning that the black is the blackest of black, and the white is the whitest of white color, with every color we can possibly see in between.

One way to achieve brighter colors is to double stack OLED displays on top of each other. Universal Display Corporation did this and was able to provide a device that achieved 102 Lumen per Watt. But it was a white light and not some of the other colors we will need.

let the sensor count people & conrol the traffic light IMPORTANT

also works with light
technical info:
- direction based counting of people
- can not be confused through objects in the back
- can not be confused by bad lightning situation
- you can control the counting intervals

in general:
so i was thiking about sensors and researched different kinds and in the end i was thinking why not let the sensor control the traffic lights.
i mean they can count with those induction loops how many cars are in which area waiting and this sensor can count people.
so why not put those info together and let the sensors decide which groups gets green light first?
i was thinking a little further and then i found this site (german!)

http://derjulian.net/lt_bak/pages/doku#a1

where they already invented a system which works with infra red sensors and a priority system.
its goes like this:

area 1: 3 people waiting for 60 seconds
area 2: 2 cars waiting for 30 seconds
area 4: a police car waiting

police car, ambulance etc = always prefered with value 999

car linked to time waiting => 10 seconds of waiting = value 20
30 seconds = 40
60 seconds = 70

pedestrian also linked to time waiting => 10 sec of waiting = value 10
30 sec = 20
60 sec = 35



according to this, the police car is first.
2. pedestrians (3x 35 = 105)
3. cars (2x 40 = 80)

i mean this is just an example and u can change all the values and change your priorities.
but it works simple with infra red sensors at different spots and i really think that could improve
the situation because nowadays there are fixed waiting periods for all members no matter if there are any cars or not.
i think this is very important and we should include this thought.

smart eye sensor for streets

works for:

- counting cars
- measuring speed
- works parallel for up to 4 traffic lanes

with this data you can find out about stuff like average speed of a street,
how many cars per day ( no students counting cars a whole day anymore!) and
whatever you would like to find out about a street.

it works with change of light or something.

induction loops as so called "old fashioned sensor":)

this is an example of magnetic fields of a plane.


you know in germany at many intersecions there are those induction loops on the street.
they control the traffic lights at night mainly.
- they work with electricity and react to the metal in cars that change the voltage.
- they register cars and change the traffic lights.
- if u put such an induction loop behind the stop line at an intersection you can register and
track knowing violation against red lights.
- if u put two of those at one certain place u can recognize the type of a car and its speed!!
- they work under every condition


i think its so simple but effective. i like.
they are trying to install those sensors on the frankfurter airport.

Sams View on the Mission Statement

Our Mission is to provide better communication between drivers and pedestrians via smarter traffic signals and crossing signals. Through better design the patience of the pedestrian can happen to decrease accident rates at crosswalks.

The Physcology of Patience

Pedestrians think they are so important that they can't wait for something for a few seconds without getting upset or angry.

Clearly, without patience we will learn less in life. We will see less; we will feel less; we will hear less. Ironically, "rush" and "more" usually mean "less." The pressure of "now," time and time again, go against the grain of the gospel with its eternalism.

Patience is indeed a skill. Many people never seem to learn patience, but everyone can learn it if they try. Patience means being able to wait for something without getting upset or angry. Most people who are patient think about other things while they are waiting, or find something to occupy their minds instead of worrying.

In an article about pedestrian patience it seems as though giving the pedestrian control (in the form of a self operated cross button) does not make them more patient, rather the pedestrian feels that by pushing a button results should be instant and proceed to cross the street without caution:

Among the new crossings that made it past the Ministry's watchful eye in this period were two across dual carriageways in Swansea, a town which had only had Zebra Crossings until then. The local newspaper ran a lengthy article about it, in which their "own correspondent" visited one and detailed his findings, under the headline "New Lights Give Lesson in Patience".

"I pressed the button on one of the pedestrian crossing standards today...and observed certain results. The traffic continued to pass for several seconds.

"Some people who apparently expected the 'Cross Now' signal to appear as though at the turn of a switch, made as though to dodge across the road until a waiting policeman gently chided: 'Now, wait for it.'

"Then the traffic stopped, the 'Cross Now' appeared for 10 seconds and we were all across the road." - http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/pedestriancrossings/3.shtml

This article is actually about pedestrian patience...but it's really stupid and the only conclusion it makes is: "life is too short...lets all slow down" yea...ok.


!!!!READ THIS ARTICLE!!!!! "Studies show that as wide roadways become more congested, pedestrians are more likely to get hit in marked crosswalks than in unmarked crosswalks." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2008/08/the_future_of_pedestrian_safet.html