RE-ACTIVATE, exploring the potential of media-embedded architecture in reinforcing social interactions
type: CreativeWork
description: Modern communication technologies both support and complicate social interaction in public spaces. This thesis, RE-ACTIVATE, is first inspired by observing new modes of social interaction that are aided by tools like the smart phone, and it examines the shifting notion of “place” towards an online environment. Considering that architecture has historically served as a framework for social activity, and that there has traditionally been an interwoven relationship between architecture and technology, RE-ACTIVATE urges the integration of architecture with media technology as a strategy for reinvigorating urban spaces and spurring social interaction. The thesis proceeds by engaging in a series of design explorations and producing an array of built prototypes embedded with programmable Arduino microprocessors and proximity sensors. These modular prototypes are designed as components for buildings or installations, which serve to intrigue the senses, imbed information, create spaces, incorporate ubiquitous computing and interface with the Internet.
abstract: Modern communication technologies both support and complicate social interaction in public spaces. This thesis, RE-ACTIVATE, is first inspired by observing new modes of social interaction that are aided by tools like the smart phone, and it examines the shifting notion of “place” towards an online environment. Considering that architecture has historically served as a framework for social activity, and that there has traditionally been an interwoven relationship between architecture and technology, RE-ACTIVATE urges the integration of architecture with media technology as a strategy for reinvigorating urban spaces and spurring social interaction. The thesis proceeds by engaging in a series of design explorations and producing an array of built prototypes embedded with programmable Arduino microprocessors and proximity sensors. These modular prototypes are designed as components for buildings or installations, which serve to intrigue the senses, imbed information, create spaces, incorporate ubiquitous computing and interface with the Internet.
author: Hodges, Jiayun A.
language: en
keywords: interactive architecture, social interaction, media installation, phenomenology of perception, Arduino, prototype fabrication
date published: 2010-08-20T18:00:45Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:25:09Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16884