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Concept: The biological cycle of the Venetian Lagoon is affected by several human affections such as fishing, pollution, traffic and global warming. Aequilibrium is an immersive environment that simulates the aquatic life and shows its reactions to your actions. Aequilibrium is not only an information display system neither a didactic installation. Aequilibrium is a mesmerizing experience that makes you learn the effects of your behaviour on the complex balance of nature.

What is it: Aequilibrium is an interactive installation specifically designed for the Rialto fish market in Venice. Digital fishes live on the market’s floor while constant up to date information and statistics are shown on the columns.

aequilibrium

How it works: With your presence you affect the installation and you can see on the columns the system’s reaction to your actions and the future prediction according to your behaviour. It is up to you whether to act gently and smoothly and become friend with fishes or to quickly destroy the full environment. Aequilibrium takes note of several dynamics data such as the number of visitors, their movements and speed, the noise they are producing and the visitors’ interaction with fishes ... yeah, of course you can kill them by hitting them with your feet but are you sure this is the right behaviour?

columns

Informations: There are four pairs of columns and each pair is dedicated to a topic: fishing, pollution, traffic and global warming. On the left column you can see the historical data while on the right column you see a prediction for the future. You can affect the prediction and see it changing according to your good or bad actions in the installation.

Potential: Aequilibrium starts from a simple, zen-like principle of action/reaction and display it to you with an intriguing experience, taking advantage of the unique atmosphere and flavour of a real fish market. The smell, the sounds, the ice melting on the floor take you in a rich experience where you can act as a single or as part of a small group. Aequilibrium could be at the same time a point and shoot game and a delicate instruments to learn/teach the importance of balance between different dynamics.

Credits: Maybe on the web it seems real but Aequilibrium is still a prototype, we develop it at the IUAV University in Venice with professors Gillian Crampton Smith and Philip Tabor in collaboration with Durrel Bishop and Davide Rocchesso. We used Processing, Wiring, some pressure sensors, two projectors, a lot of Illustrator sketching and we build a fake venetian floor.

sensors

Here is how we split the work:

Brainstorming, sketching and developing the whole project: Marco Zamarato with Margherita Urbani.

Graphics: Margherita Urbani.

Prototype’s problem solving: Marco Zamarato with Margherita Urbani.

Coding: Marco Zamarato.

Floor prototype: Margherita Urbani with Pamela Moscarda.

Hacking (sensors and circuits): Marco Zamarato with Margherita Urbani.