Tangible Media Group

The ambientROOM is a Tangible Bits platform which explores the use of ambient
media as a means of communicating information at the periphery of human perception.
The ambientROOM allows users to be aware of background bits using ambient display
media such as ambient light, shadow, sound, airflow, water movement in an augmented
architectural space. The ambientROOM also provides physical handles such as bottles
and a clock to control ambient display of bits. The ambientROOM opens new possibilities
of exploring seamless transitions between background awareness and foreground
activity.

Ghostly Presence

Craig Wisneski and Professor Hiroshi Ishii

Ghostly Presence is an application of the ambientROOM platform. Ghostly
Presence explores the subtle representation of the “presence” of people mediated
by the physical environment. We explore ways to give a sense of the ghostly presence
of people in real and/or virtual spaces using non-intrusive ambient media and
background communication channels.

Ghostly Presence associates the activity of people with physical objects within
the ambientROOM. Varying levels of activity “within” these container-objects is
expressed in the ROOM by combinations of ambient light, sound, airflow, and water
movement.