15 March 2007
In my ever-increasing search for incredible devices and design objects on YouTube, I came across this video. It’s a concrete device that is embedded with LEDs in a regular pattern produced by Innovation Lab. In effect, the embedded LEDs act as a video monitor. What does this mean? Quite honestly I could write for hours on this subject, but it would be boring and it would suck. So, I’ll let you think of the possibilities of when an architectural structural device becomes a TV screen. The first thing that pops onto my mind is buildings that speak to you depending on what your doing in the building. So lets say your running at a public pool. A motion sensor catches this, and the wall says to you “STOP RUNNING!”. That might be weird.
June 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Actually, it’s not an array of LEDs embedded in the concrete. It’s based on optical fibers and a projector. Basically, it’s a really heavy, low resolution “up-scaling” back-projection screen.
The tightly spaced fibers on the back of the concrete screen pick up the image, which is then transferred through the individual optical fibers to the opposite end of the concrete block where the light is emitted again. Since the spacing is greater on the viewing side, you get a larger image compared to the projected one (hence the “up-scaling” bit).
Optical fibers are really quite nifty. I’ve seen (and maybe you’ve covered this earlier, I have only got this far back in the history yet — the blog kicks ass!) examples of optical fibers being used to bring actual sun light into buildings where window light won’t shine.
Also, I seem to remember seeing concrete mixed with glass fiber, making it somewhat translucent, without losing any structural integrity. Which is cool.
June 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 am
Man, I’m embarrassed. Thanks so much!