Syllabus

The last two decades have witnessed an increasing penetration of digital technologies in the physical space - a phenomenon often described as the emergence of the Internet of Things. This ushered in a series of radical changes in how we conceive, design and live the city. More recently, with a particular prominence in China, technological advancements such as AI and facial recognition have been accelerating a process by which the built environment is becoming more and more able to sense people’s needs in real time. We are now reaching an unprecedented scenario, whereby architectural space is acquiring the ability to ‘see’: it can potentially recognize us and autonomously react to our presence. What can the consequences of this new scenario be on urban life?

While face recognition systems have been around since the 1960s, recent advancements in the technology’s accuracy and adaptability have led to new applications in both the public and private sector. From the iPhone X’s facial recognition authentication system1 to Google’s Arts & Culture “museum doppelganger” app that pairs your selfie with the portrait you most resemble, many such application point to a brighter future where facial recognition can simplify access to buildings, resources, and services.

Nevertheless, the technology remains a point of contention, especially when it comes to privacy issues and government surveillance programmes. A recent partnership between Rekognition (Amazon’s facial recognition technology) and police departments in Orlando and Oregon’s Washington County drew widespread condemnation from the American Civil Liberties Union who published an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos demanding that Amazon stop supplying government and law enforcement agencies with facial recognition technology. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have even designed eyeglasses to trick facial recognition systems into misidentifying faces.

The workshop responds to an open call for contributions to the 2019 Shenzhen Biennale whose curatorial statement, the Eyes of the City, explores the paradigm shift from inanimate architecture to a built environment that is quickly acquiring the ability to see and react to users in real time. Working in teams of 3, we will develop concepts for new products and services that leverage on face recognition technology.
The deliverables include a pitch deck our fictitious clients: Ajuntament de Barcelona, Amazon, a Grassroots Community Organization, the Spanish Department of Defense and Tinder. Participants are free to interpret the debate on facial recognition and privacy as they see fit, but should be ready to defend their position.

Exercise

Brief: The workshop responds to an open call for contributions to the 2019 Shenzhen Biennale whose curatorial statement, the Eyes of the City, explores the paradigm shift from inanimate architecture to a built environment that is quickly acquiring the ability to see and react to users in real time.

Task: Working in teams of 3, we will develop concepts for new products and services that leverage on face recognition technology.

Site: Set within the context of Rome’s Termini station, the design exercise investigates the impact of facial recognition on public transit hubs - a sister study to the 2019 Shenzhen Biennale which will be held in the Futian High Speed Train Station.

Deliverables: The deliverables include a pitch deck our fictitious clients: Ajuntament de Barcelona, Alibaba, a Grassroots Community Organization, the Spanish Department of Defense and Tinder.

Examples:
● Ajuntament de Barcelona : How can we use face recognition technology to
unlock access to municipals services?
● Amazon: How can we use face recognition technology to survey the mood
and/or habits of our target market?
● Grassroots Community Organization: How can I protect myself from being
detected by face recognition systems.
● Spanish Department of Defense: Could we use face recognition technology to
create an AI-powered no visa zone?
● Tinder : Can face recognition technology help me find my ideal mate?

Deliverables

1. Title (15 words maximum): Title and a short slogan describing the project.

2. Abstract (200 words maximum): A short abstract describing the main idea behind the product or service and its relation to the syllabus theme.

3. Poster: A3 panel illustrating:
a. Concept: An illustration, from a spatial perspective, of the product or service;
b. User-interaction: A short explanation of how the product or service could establish a dialogue with the user;
c. Context: A description of how the product or service relates to the specifics of a transportation hub (Rome’s Termini station).

4. Project description (700 words maximum): A short description explaining:
a. Relation to the Theme: The focus here should be explaining how the proposed project is able to answer the main issues put forth by the syllabus. The product or service should feel free to reply to the syllabus in an original way, spanning different perspectives and references;
b. The project’s positioning: This should be an explanation of the positioning of the proposed product or service in terms of user experience and its relation to the syllabus theme.

5. Implementation strategy (300 words maximum, tables and images): A short
programmed explaining:
a. Implementation process: A description of how the design project will be realized, specifying tools and materials, and explanation of the necessary next steps to bring the product or service to life;
b. Partners (if applicable): An indication of possible collaborations with external companies and enterprises for the use of technologies or with research-based teams for support in scientific consistency and in the realization of the proposal.
c. Preliminary schedule: Gantt chart mapping the implementation of the product or service before the deadline of November 1st, 2019.
d. Preliminary budget: A general assessment of the costs for the realization of the product or service.

Course structure

Monday, May 20th, 2019

11.30 - 13.00          Course Structure: Topic, Site and Schedule

14.00 - 17.30          Discover: Working Session with Desk Reviews 

Tuesday, May 21st, 2019

  9.30 - 12.30          Define: Working Session with Desk Reviews

14.00 - 16.00          Pin-Up: Review problem definitions 

Monday, June 3rd, 2019

11.30 - 13.00          Pin-Up: Review initial design proposals

14.00 - 17.30          Design: Working Session with Desk Reviews 

17.30 - 19.00         Public Lecture by Carlo Ratti: Senseable Cities 

Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 

  9.30 - 12.30          Concept Pitches with Guest Critics (TBC)

14.00 - 16.00          Final Desk Reviews