MAI:Ring

‘MAI:Ring’ is a media architectural interface (MAI) which is extending Smart City Bamberg’s public displays at the Stadt:Raum. It turns a passive information display into an interactive system at a strategic site in the city centre of Bamberg at which it is envisioned to offer meaningful content for the public. 

As an experimental project, the permanently installed physical interface is intended to explore how people engage with new media formats in the city space as well as the potential benefits and applications of this technology. The project asks: could the media interface be an informative and communicative tool for passers-by? If so, what kinds of content and styles of interaction could be used?

MAI:Ring is integrated with the public displays of Smart City Bamberg on the fa?ade of the Stadt:Raum at Promenadestra?e 6a, opposite to the Bamberg central bus station (ZOB). The MAI and basic application framework were built by Prof. Dr. Patrick Tobias Fischer and deployed, developed and maintained in cooperation with Smart City Bamberg.

The interface is composed of a 55-inch vertical screen facing the street. It is connected with an interactive wooden Ring that can be accessed by the passers-by. The screen displays content which the pedestrians may navigate and scroll by using the Ring device. Thus, the interface enables experimenting with new presentation formats and styles beyond public display signage and established interface metaphors (e.g. multitouch display, mobile phone, etc.).

Technically, the interface has been successfully installed. The content production is still in process, although the interface is already running multiple applications that are being further developed.

MAI:Ring is aimed to experiment primarily with three different types of content: (1) artistic content, (2) education related content, and (3) participatory content relevant to the city. The interface offers valuable opportunities for potential content creators who would be able to present their ideas in a highly visible space for an extended period of time.    

In contrast to traditional public displays that often lack site-specificity, this interface is meant to be adapted to and engage with its place, being its immediate physical context as well as the city at large. In other words, the interface is intended to establish a connection with the passers-by and the genius loci through its customized content and applications. 

In summary, MAI:Ring project aims to better understand several aspects such as:

• The modes of interaction between people and media interfaces in the urban space in qualitative and quantitative terms
• The added value of physical interfaces in the urban space
• The potential of MAI to function as communication tools to promote citizen participation in urban development
• The potential of new media formats and interactive styles versus established formats for public displays, public interactive displays and media architecture

For more details and technical information, see https://lab.uxd.uni-bamberg.de/UxD-SCL-Ring