Sensory devices are being embedded in architecture to create interactive designs. Such ubiquitous computing arrangements will eventually propagate through our homes, offices and other building types. What remains fascinating is the advent when such architectural spaces will use technology to learn from its own experience. Already, robots are being designed to do just that. Let me explain…

In a Scientific American article entitled Can Robots Be Programmed to Learn from Their Own Experience, the author describes how engineers and designers are programming the robot with “learning algorithms and probability distributions” in order to give them practical and useful behaviors. (1) Similarly, interactive architecture can be programmed and optimized to behave in more useful ways that help occupants to achieve their goals — like work productivity, healthy behaviors and increased learning ability. Architects can utilize many of the findings uncovered by robot designers to create better interactivity for architecture that is becoming evermore popular and widespread.

For the most-part, interactivity today seems to occur without much helpful interaction for humans. Often, it surfaces in architectural design for aesthetic, symbolic or entertainment purposes. Hopefully; however, such interactivity will take on more significant roles for humans – serving for practical purpose that more efficiently helps occupants to live better lives.

By learning from what it can sense, architecture will be better able to promote its own intended functions. It is the responsibility of architects and others in the design profession to make certain that interactive design continues on its best path – one that helps occupants meet their goals: in real-time for both short and long-term meaningful success.

Reference:

(1) Smith, Julian. Robots Be Programmed to Learn from Their Own Experience?. Scientific American. March 23, 2009.

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