“Constellation of Departure” at Haneda Airport (2009) | Calm Technology Case #1
In this post, I introduce a project aligning with the principles of Calm Technology.
“Constellation of Departure” Public Art at the Tokyo Haneda Airport (2009)
From the harbor of air, “star airplanes” take off.
The stars synchronize with the departure times of airplanes from Haneda Airport, drawing the silhouette of the airplanes and heading towards their destinations.
This public art “Constellation of Departure” (2009 — 2010) was planned and produced in collaboration with an artist Yasuhiro Suzuki, within the Digital Public Art Project at the University of Tokyo.
This work applied the “Particle Display System,” I proposed and implemented in 2007. The Constellation of Departure consists of 3,000 LEDs installed behind the ceiling’s wire mesh, displaying images that flash and scroll at a high speed of 250 times per second according to the arrangement of stars. Viewers can see high-definition airplane images due to the persistence of vision phenomenon.
The twinkling stars on the ceiling will further enhance the excitement of the journey. The airport lobby transforms into a lively space full of openness.
In this post, I introduce this artwork while comparing it with the eight principles of Calm Technology found in “Calm Technology: Principles and Patterns for Non-Intrusive Design” (by Amber Case, O’Reilly, 2015. Japanese translation supervision and a chapter contribution by mui Lab, BNN, 2020).
Principles of Calm Technology™
1. Technology should require the smallest possible amount of attention
2. Technology should inform and create calm
3. Technology should make use of the periphery
4. Technology should amplify the best of technology and the best of humanity
5. Technology can communicate, but doesn’t need to speak
6. Technology should work even when it fails
7. The right amount of technology is the minimum needed to solve the problem
8. Technology should respect social norms
As an example of digital technology based on these principles, the book introduces melody sounds to indicate Roomba status and status LEDs on MacBook charging cables.
In this artwork, the “ceiling” of the airport lobby, a place that does not interfere with airport users, is chosen. This demonstrates principle (1) by minimizing the amount of attention drawn to it. Also, only during the times when airplanes take off from the airport, large airplane silhouettes cross the ceiling toward their destinations, replicating the arrangement of stars visible from this location during normal times. This aligns with principle (8) by respecting social norms.
At that moment, people notice the moving lights at the edge of their field of view. This utilizes the periphery of vision and consciousness, as in principle (3) “Technology should make use of the periphery”. Airport users can realize, by looking up, that someone is departing towards the north. Detailed departure times or destination information is not included unnecessarily. This practices principles (5) “Technology can communicate, but doesn’t need to speak” and (7) “The right amount of technology is the minimum needed to solve the problem”.
The information displayed in this constellation of departure is obtained from the departure timetable data of the airport, so even if this “constellation of departure” system breaks down, no fatal problems occur. This follows principle (6) “Technology should work even when it fails”. Additionally, it brings awareness of direction and stimulates imagination, prompting users to think about the stories of other travelers, offering human experiences and values rather than just presenting inert data. This intends to achieve principle (4) “Technology should amplify the best of technology and the best of humanity”.
As a whole, this artwork is designed to evoke rich feelings by acknowledging the journeys of people departing from this airport. This connects to principle (2) “Technology should inform and create calm”.
Further details about this artwork are available in “Digital Public Art in Haneda Airport: A New World Felt with Technology and Air” (published by Bijutsu Shuppan, 2010.).
