"THE EMOTION MACHINE"

The following text is a precursor to the upcoming design/art presentation for the Arlanda airport.

We are suggesting a self educating interactive floor installation for the airport. The installation will physically manifest itself through a matrix of several leds (light emitting diodes) embedded in the floor under a semi transparent cover. This floor will be fitted with touch sensitive devices and the entire system will be controlled through an interface connected to a personal computer.

The project will allow for public participation from both the people interacting with the work in the physical space (through the touch sensitive floor) as well as digital artists contributing to the programming of the screen (through the peripheral computer connected to the internet.) It is through this interactivity that we will educate our installation.

Before interacting with the work each participant will be presented with the sentence “How Are You Today?” coupled with a serious of icons depicting seven different emotions ranging from happy to sad. The player has the option to choose an emotion before choosing to interact with the floor or not. When the player leaves this floor design he or she is presented with another question that states “How Are You Now.” coupled with the same set of icons. Each time the system receives input from both the beginning and end of each of the interaction the system creates a number that indicates either an increase or decrease in the emotion of the participant. The numbers for all participants choosing to interact with the survey will be accumulated and then a median value will then be calculated to define how much happier or sadder the floor installation made the participant.

Initially a curatorial committee will select from several digital artists who will make works to install within the floor. Each artist will have his or her work shown for a prescribed length of time. During each interval each work will be evaluated by the participants based on how much happier or sadder it has made them. Those values will be used to limit the duration times for less “happier” works and allow for more time to devote to new applications that can be developed based on the research gathered from previous installations. As time passes the programmers will learn more about what makes happier experiences in the space and further test and refine their programs. Eventually the curatorial process could be automated through an intelligent database if need be. This system has advantages over traditional forms of art making for several reasons but I will just focus on the two primary advantages.

It relieves passengers from boredom and stress during his or her time in the particular “inactive” area of the airport where the project is installed, as well as allowing the passengers to have some ownership over the space. Thus, the project quantifiably changes the state of the environment in a more democratic fashion to create a better public space.

As well the project evolves over time thus aligning itself with the changing sensibilities of the international community. Furthermore, as technology progresses new applications could be added to the system to further tailor and enhance the system if one wishes to do so. This is characteristic is imperative in a rapidly shifting global community where tastes change so often.