WiFi (Rough Map) and Hertizan Space

WiFi Data

Wireless Communications has been a hot topic this week and Ben Reynhart (who works at Mutant Labs) began giving us a lecture in Hertizan Space. There are known devices which are capable of transmitting and recieving signals such as electro-magnetic radiation.

We went to investigate how this kind of idea would work in the outside world, how could something like this transform the way we look at Stonehouse?

One of the groups favourited areas is Royal Williams Dockyard. It's an ideal place to investigate how we could convert electro-magnetic radiation into something visually and graphically representable.

From the data we have collected in our selected area of Stonehouse, we have begun using WiFi enabling equipment such as phones and laptops to find how many WiFi signals we can find. We found alot of conclusive results that people in this part of Stonehouse use the internet alot and have individual internet connections belonging to various ISP's (Internet Service Providers). The common ones such as SKY, BT, Virgin and the infamous uncommon ones such as MASSBREWUP and Googanies-hair (possibly mobile devices with bluetooth activated..). We also found an open network which was named Hpsetup which wasn't protected and had a strength of 2 bars, so it is relatively useable by all of the people that lived in this area (especially section 1).

Here is a rough representation of the map to come, it will basically display different strengths based on my laptops status along in the area we selected. The more bars, the stronger the signal. The example shows all of the strength 2's in the area which was the most common signal strength in the area.

Chosen Site - Projection

Location
The group have found a very interesting site to conduct the task of Projection.

It's located just south of Cremyll street within a protective area. This protective area holds fairly pricey flats with secure car parks with walls surrounding the area and the sea casting as another barrier behind the building. To get into this area there is a gate which keeps this place away from the run down parts of Stonehouse.





Ideal

This location is purely ideal for projection because of the buildings shape and Symmetry which is perfect for projecting various effects on the surface we have found. The huge chimney in the centre of the building helps create the symmetry by dividing the building in two.

Projection Concept

Using Photoshop I have created a little concept example of what the projection could look like... Depending on the colour filters used within the projector to produce special effects on this historic building. I have used special filter effects such as water ripples to produce a feeling that the windows are made out of water. Using artistic and distortion filters I have been able to fill the other windows and parts of the structure with different effects to create a special mixture of textures. Colours used are from using adjustments such as colour/balance and hue/saturations to create a visual glow. I have also used layer styles such as the motion blur in the background to keep the viewer focussed on the building.

The First Meeting: IDAT106

Met the IDAT106 group today. Pretty good experience :).

Looks like we will be studying the area of Stonehouse in Plymouth, taking photos of different buildings and views from different perspectives to see what we want to improve about this part of the city.

We had a little brainstorming session... we came up with these ideas:

• Contrasting between rich and poor communities.



• Exploring areas within Stonehouse and compare well maintained buildings with poor redundant buildings.

Map of proposed route (Data collection area)





Here are two maps of the researching area. I have used spray painting to display the areas that the group has discovered. Each colour basically indicates the streets and their boundaries. Each area/street have different aspects. Blue = Durnford Street. Durnford Street is well looked after, there is minimal damage to the buildings, they are all renovated and maintained. Red = Cremyll Street. Cremyll Street is fairly run down, the buildings are not well looked after (in the northern areas of the street). Yellow = The coastal areas and the fortress walls are moderately looked after. There are still problems with graffiti, litter, grime and crime but it's on a lower extent compared to Cremyll Street. Black = Union Street. Union Street is indicated by the 'black cloud' this area of Stonehouse is mixed with crime, grime, unhappy, unclean streets, buildings, quality and full of council flats with different ethnic groups in complete conflict.

More plans coming up! (If any other group copies then we will KNOW)...