ABSTRACT' Light'is'important'to'human'beings,'and'since'the'invention'of'gas,'oil,'and'electricity'it'has' been' possible' to' light' up' cities' at' night.' The' streetlights' have' changed' from' the' yellow/orange' lamps' to' white' lights,' and' there' are' many' positive' things' about' this;' for' instance' the' way' people' see,' react,' and' feel' about' this' kind' of' light.' But' are' there' other,' more'aesthetic,'possible'solutions'for'illuminating'urban'places?'The'group'report'Lightning' up' Nature' explores' the' preserved' area' Amager' FĂŚlled,' and' investigates' how' light' installations' can' aesthetically' create' a' more' comfortable' and' appealing' atmosphere' in' Amager'FĂŚlled'when'it'is'dark.'This'essay'discusses'how'lights'are'and'can'be'used'to'create' places,'and'how'aesthetics'in'interaction'design'is'considered'through'the'exploratory'study' Lighting'up'Nature.' Keywords;'' Light,'nature,'urban'places,'aesthetics,'interaction'design'
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TABLE'OF'CONTENTS' Introduction*........................................................................................................................*3! Urban*places*........................................................................................................................*4! Light*in*cities*.......................................................................................................................*6! Aesthetics*in*interaction*design*...................................................................................*8! Conclusion*............................................................................................................................*9! References*........................................................................................................................*10! '
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INTRODUCTION' There'are'many'definitions'of'light;'particles,'warmth'and'colours'are'among'a'few'of'them.' This'essay'will'try'to'answer'the'question'of'how'to'use'light'in'the'sense'of'practicality'and' aesthetics.'Light'is'in'many'ways'the'essence'of'life'and'almost'all'creatures'of'our'world'are' drawn'to'it.'We'need'it,'crave'it,'but'light'can'differ'in'many'ways'and'different'colours'and' strength' of' lights' generates' different' feelings;' from' the' warm' light' emitting' from' a' single' candle'on'a'sofa'table'to'the'cold,'white'illumination'of'industrial'lamps.'The'group'report'is' an' exploratory' study' on' different' ways' of' using' lights' aesthetically' in' a' specific' area' in' Copenhagen.' After' working' with' lights,' I' find' it' interesting' to' dig' a' bit' deeper' into' urban' places,'and'how'light'can'affect'and'transform'places.'Therefore,'this'essay'tries'to'explore' and' discuss' lights' in' urban' places,' how' light' affects' humans,' and' how' light' can'be' used' in' interaction'design.' Research.question. How'can'light'affect'urban'places'and'interaction'design?'
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URBAN'PLACES' Today,' there' is' a' correlation' between' information,' technology,' space' and' society' (Souza,' 2010,' p.' 32).' Souza' (2010)' examines' the' difference' between' space' and' place,' and' defines' place' as' architectural' space' –' a' space' with' symbolic,' functional,' and' technical' dimensions' (Souza,'2010,'p.'36).'The'three'dimensions'concerns'some'qualities'places'have'compared'to' spaces.'Space'is'only'defined'by'geometric'and'quantitative'aspects,'and'does'not'have'any' qualitative' features' (Souza,' 2010,' p.' 36).' Souza' (2010)' defines' place' with' help' from' Heidegger,'and'explains:' “The'term'‘place’'is'itself'derived'from'Greek'and'Latin'roots'meaning'‘broad'or' open' way’,' as' well' with' the' sense' of' ‘place’' associated' with' the' way' in' which' intersection'of'roads'in'a'town'or'village'may'open'out'into'a'square'that'may' itself'function'as'somewhere'people'may'gather'and'events'take'place,'perhaps' even'acting'as'the'centre'of'the'town'or'village'as'such.”'(Souza,'2010,'p.'37)' A' place' might' be' open' and' broad' without' specific' boundaries,' but' what' qualifies' it' as' a' place,'is'its'functions'and'qualities.'' Souza' (2010)' identifies' three' qualities;' setting' up' an' inside/outside,' the' hidden' and' the' visible,'and'appropriation'(Souza,'2010,'pp.'39a41).'The'initial'two'qualities'are'much'about' the'physical'place;'deciding'what'is'inside'and'outside'the'place,'and'define'what'should'be' visible'to'the'outside.'The'visibility'aspect'concerns'also'the'qualities'of'privacy'and'identity:' “’Privacy’' corresponds' to' what' should' be' kept' in' secret' (including' sounds' and' other' revealing'aspects'of'the'interior),'and'‘identity’'to'what'must'be'displayed'or'shown”'(Souza,' 2010,'p.'40).'' The' third' quality,' appropriation,' is' more' about' the' usage' of' the' place' –' acting' in' it' and' preserving'it'(Souza,'2010,'p.'40).'This'quality'seems'interesting'to'the'theme'of'light.'Since' appropriation'deals'with'maintenance'and'comfort'of'a'place,'and'lighting'can'be'essential' to' creating' a' mood.' As' Souza' (2010)' states:' “This' characteristic' corresponds' to' providing' people' with' ‘gearings’' inside' places' for' the' purposes' of' care' and' maintenance”' (p.' 41).' Appropriation' also' has' to' do' with' ambience;' for' example' candlelight' creates' a' certain' ambience.' The' ambience' quality' is' related' to' emotions' and' is' therefor' a' subjective' dimension' in' places' (Souza,' 2010,' p.' 42).' Therefore,' a' place' with' a' specific' ambience' may' seem'appealing'to'some'people,'and'repellent'to'others'of'different'cultures.''
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' In'the'theoretical'framework'by'Souza'(2010)'there'are'no'reflections'about'light,'although' light' can' be' very' effective' in' creating' different' kinds' of' atmospheres.' As' mentioned' in' the' introduction' light' has' different' definitions' and' can' be' understood' in' different' parameters.' Spaces'has'only'the'geometric'and'quantitative'aspects,'so'what'really'makes'the'difference' is'the'feelings'you'have'within'a'place.'How'can'light'affect'and'change'a'feeling?'Can'light' itself'transform'a'simple'space'into'a'more'meaningful'and'pleasant'place?'The'next'section' will'look'into'how'light'installations'are'used'in'urban'places,'and'how'light'affects'people' on'the'streets.''
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LIGHT'IN'CITIES' This' section' is' somewhat' built' on' a' study' Philips' Electronics' (2008)' did' on' white' light' compared'to'yellow/orange'light,'and'how'it'changes'cities'at'night.'The'paper'is'of'course' very'biased,'since'the'lights'they'endorse'are'their'own'products,'but'they'still'have'some' good' points' based' on' valid' research' (Philips,' 2008,' pp.16a28)' regarding' light' and' its' influence'on'people.' The' study' discusses' and' argues' for' white' light' instead' of' yellow/orange' light' on' four' different'levels;'aesthetical'improvements,'feeling'of'security,'safety,'and'energy'efficiency.' The' main' purpose' for' Philips' (2008)' is' to' convince' us' that' white' lighting' will' create' more' lively'and'inviting'streets'at'night'(p.'5).' Some' of' the' arguments' are' that' white' lights' creates' a' feeling' of' safety' because' of' the' increased' recognition' of' faces' and' other' details,' and' that' the' increased' visibility' for' car' drivers,' bike' riders,' and' pedestrians' makes' the' streets' safer' (Philips,' 2008,' p.' 6a7).' These' arguments'are'indeed'good,'when'it'comes'to'safety'and'security,'and'what'Philips'(2008)' claims'is'that'when'people'feel'safe'and'secure,'they'will'be'more'on'the'streets,'which'will' create' more' lively' and' inviting' streets' at' night,' and' leave' them' less' deserted,' which' will' counteract'crime'(p.'11).'' What'are'also'enhanced'in'the'study'are'the'aesthetical'improvements.'White'lights'should' highlight'attractive'building'details,'and'in'general'emphasize'characteristic'features'of'the' city' at' night' (Philips,' 2008,' p.' 8).' Besides' this,' research' shows' that' the' white' light' is' more' authentic' and' creates' a' more' natural' atmosphere' compared' to' the' yellow/orange' light' (Philips,'2008,'p.'9,'pp.'16a18).'' In'the'exploratory'study'Lighting'up'Nature'(2011)'investigations'with'different'lights'were' made' on' bike' and' walking' paths' in' the' area' of' Amager' Fælled' in' Copenhagen.' The' aim' of' that'exploration'was'to'experience'how'different'lights'affected'the'paths'when'it'is'dark,' and' both' different' colours,' strength,' temperatures,' and' different' settings' (flashing' or' steady)'were'tested'(Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'pp.'9a11).'The'findings'were'that'green'light' “really' blended' in' with' the' nature' and' created' an' aesthetic' and' pleasant' atmosphere”' (Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'p.'9).'Further'more,'findings'were'made'on'the'placement'of'the' lights.' The' idea' was' to' place' lights' near' the' ground' to' both' light' up' the' ground,' but' also' illuminate' the' trees’' branches,' and' leaves,' instead' of' having' light' bulbs' lighting' the' paths' from'above'(Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'p.'10).'
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' Many' paths' do' have' lighting,' also' white' lighting,' and' it' makes' it' safe' and' secure,' but' the' purpose' of' the' Lighting' up' Nature' experiment' was' to' aesthetically' create' a' more' comfortable'and'appealing'atmosphere'in'Amager'FÌlled.'This'area'is'preserved'nature,'and' it'has'no'lighting,'which'makes'it'uncomfortable'and'unattractive'to'travel'through'when'it'is' dark.' White' lighting,' as' Philips' (2008)' suggests,' could' illuminate' the' space' to' make' it' safer' and' more'secure,'and'maybe'some'more'creative'lightning,'like'the'green'lights'illuminating'the' nature'and'the'paths'Lighting'up'Nature'suggests,'can'make'it'more'aesthetic'and'natural'to' its' surroundings.' These' ideas' and' approaches' have' to' do' with' subjective' feelings' and' appropriation.'So,'does'light'in'itself'transform'a'simple'deserted'space'like'Amager'FÌlled' at'night'into'a'place,'where'bike'riders'and'pedestrians'might'feel'safe'and'actually'attracted' to'travel'through'or'even'gather?'If'we'look'at'it'according'to'Souza’s'(2010)'three'qualities' of'place,'it'seems'to'me'that'light'has'the'effect'to'generate'places'on'all'three'levels:'it'sets' up'an'inside/outside,'since'the'light'will'keep'the'path'in'focus'as'the'inside;'it'makes'the' paths'visible,'and'still'includes'an'idea'of'the'nature'around'it,'so'the'identity'of'the'nature' is'visible;'and'at'last'it'has'appropriation,'since'it'creates'ambience.'' Light'can'be'used'in'many'different'ways,'and'if'it'is'aesthetic'or'not'is'very'subjective,'and' does' not' necessarily' relate' to' the' visuals.' The' next' section' will' deliberate' on' the' idea' of' aesthetics,'and'the'meaning'of'the'expression.''
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AESTHETICS'IN'INTERACTION'DESIGN' Interaction' design' is' about' designing' for' a' reciprocal' action' or' influence.' It' is' about' influencing' the' users' in' a' way' that' will' make' them' interact' with' the' design' object' or' concept.'Löwgren'(2008)'identifies'five'things'he'deems'worthy'considering'about'aesthetics' in'interaction'design'(pp.2a8):' 1. It'makes'little'sense'to'talk'about'‘visual'aesthetics’'as'an'isolated'modality' 2. The'genre'determines'the'aesthetic'qualities' 3. Aesthetic'is'not'equal'to'good,'pleasant,'pretty'or'nice' 4. Aesthetic' experience' is' connected' with' intellectual' deliberation' as' much' as' with' immediate,'‘visceral’'response' 5. We'need'holistic,'interpretative'approaches'to'dealing'with'aesthetics'in'interaction' design' These' five' beliefs' are' helpful' when' reflecting' on' aesthetics' as' an' expression,' and' also,' of' course,' when' dealing' with' interaction' design.' With' light' there' are' several' possibilities' to' create'an'aesthetic'experience.'Löwgren'(2008)'uses'a'horror'game'as'an'example,'where'he' describes' a' dilemma' where' the' player' must' decide' whether' or' not' to' switch' on' the' flashlight'in'a'dark'place'–'if'you'turn'it'on,'the'enemy'might'see'you,'but'if'you'leave'it'off,' you' do' not' know' what' is' waiting' in' front' of' you' (p.' 3).' The' aesthetic' experience' here' is' determined'by'the'genre'–'the'aim'is'to'leave'the'player'fearful'and'nervous,'and'to'put'him' in'situations'like'that,'will'create'the'wanted'aesthetic'experience.'Considering'the'case'of' Lighting'up'Nature'(2011),'the'wanted'aesthetic'experience'was'to'make'the'bike'riders'and' pedestrians'in'Amager'Fælled'feel'safe,'and'experience'a'kind'of'invitation'to'travel'through' the'park.'This'relates'to'Löwgren’s'(2008)'first'credence;'“when'we'talk'about'aesthetics'we' need'to'talk'about'look'and'feel”,'not'merely'about'look”'(p.'2).'Lighting'up'Nature'(2011)' aims'to'create'a'feeling'of'security,'wellabeing,'and'also'it'should'‘look'nice’'and'natural'to' its'surroundings.'That'was'the'aim'of'the'exploratory'study'–'if'it'succeeded'is'a'subjective' matter.'It'was'also'only'a'minor'part'of'the'area'that'was'tested'in'that'study,'and'to'create' a' holistic' (Löwgren,' 2008,' p.' 7)' experience,' it' should' be' investigated' how' to' include' much' more'of'the'park.'The'idea'of'Lighting'up'Nature'can'be'considered'as'a'preastudy'to'a'larger' exploration'of'the'area'of'Amager'Fælled,'and'how'to'make'it'more'urban'and'usable'for'the' citizens.''
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' Aesthetics'are,'as'said,'about'look'and'feel,'and'I'believe'light'has'affordance'to'create'both' visual'and'visceral'aesthetics'in'an'area'like'Amager'Fælled.'It'is'an'‘untouched’'area,'with' possibilities' to' create' different' genres' of' experiences' –' it' can' be' illuminated' with' white' lights,'to'make'it'bright'and'safe'at'night,'or'it'could'be'gloomy'and'interesting'with'darker' lights' in' dim' colours.' It' is' up' to' someone' else' to' explore' this,' and' figure' out' what' would' attract'citizens'to'this'area'of'Copenhagen.'' '
CONCLUSION' This' essay' has' discussed' light' in' a' practical' and' aesthetic' matter,' and' has' to' some' extend' answered'the'question,'if'light'can'affect'urban'places'and'how'it'can'be'used'aesthetically' in' interaction' design.' Aesthetics' is' a' word' with' different' definitions' and' perceptions.' How' people'experience'light,'or'any'other'digital'installation,'aesthetically'depends'on'their'life' experience,'immediate'feelings,'and'subjective'depiction'of'the'world.'With'inspiration'from' lectures'and'articles'on'digital'aesthetics'I'have'developed'this'view'on'how'aesthetics'relate' to'the'project'of'Lighting'up'Nature.''
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REFERENCES' ' Souza,' F.' and' Cesar,' R.' (2010).' Information' Technology' in' Urban' Places:' A' Theoretical' Framework' for' the' Development' of' IT' Applied' in' the' space.' Lambert' Academic' Publishing,'pp.'30a47.' ' Philips'Electronics'(2008).'Hvidt'lys:'Forvandler'Byen'om'Natten.'Holland.' ' Lighting' up' Nature' (2011)' –' group' report' by' Vanja' Cosic,' Alexander' Almegaard,' Nana' Sø,' Sophie'Mørk,'Victoria'Rahbek,'and'Signe'Harring'Hansen.' ' Löwgren,'J.'(2008).'Five'Things'I'Believe'About'the'Aesthetics'of'Interaction'Design.'Dagstuhl' Seminar' Proceedings' The' Study' of' Visual' Aesthetics' in' HumanaComputer' Interaction,' pp.'1a8.' '
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