Transforming Traditional Materials into Information Surfaces

We have been discussing ways to embed information into the built
environment for visualizing energy consumption, providing contextual
feedback to influence the habitants, and monitoring the environmental
effects on the house. Orkan has started looking at some smart material
literature and there are a number of interesting projects that explore
ways to transform traditional materials into information surfaces.

One relatively known example (dating from 2004) uses "electrochromatic"
dyes mixed into concrete, where information is displayed with selective
activation of the surface(via current), which then stimulates a color
change in the material:

http://www.chromastone.com/

While this may not be the most clever way to do this, "electrochromatic"
materials have a lot of potential to embed subtle visualizations into
the environment which can reflect the relationship between the house and
users and the house and environment. If the house is going to be a
personal trainer, we probably need to experiment with some alternative
display typologies, input and output systems before we put small LCD
screens on the walls.

Also, by observing the changes, we can use these dyed or augmented
materials as inputs for other sensors. It is quite trivial to detect
color patterns (e.g., caused by sunlight, heat) with cheap cameras and
design actuation systems that for example can guide the energy
infrastructure of the house (e.g., switching it automatically to power
saving modes).

There might be many ways to make the house learn about itself by making
it observe its own materiality.