The Ambient Canvas is a real time system that gives quick at-a-glance information to increase awareness for the occupants of a smart home.
The Ambient Canvas was designed as part of an international solar house competition called Solar Decathlon held at Washington, DC in 2009. It was designed as part of a solar house project called the North House, a joint collaboration from University of Waterloo, Ryerson University, and Simon Fraser University. It won 4th place.
Overview
The Ambient Canvas uses light as a means of conveying information about the state of the house and the well-being of the occupants. The higher the intensity of light, the brighter the design will glow and the more the occupants consume. A low intensity light is meant to prompt the occupants to start conserving more. Three sections of lights display three types of information: water consumption, power consumption, and success in reaching ‘green’ goals (at the beginning of the week, occupants can input their goals such as riding a bike to work instead of driving and the canvas will show their successes).
The curves are mirrored. Water consumption is displayed on left, power consumption displayed at middle and green goals are displayed on right.
Though the information conveyed by the lights may be ambiguous at first, it is our hope, that through prolonged living in this home, the occupants will come to understand the meanings behind the qualities of light and it will serve as a central information hub. This will give a chance for the occupants to grow along with their house.
Prototypes
Early prototypes explored the organic properties of lights and shapes.
An Arduino controlled the intensity of an LED which shone through rice paper. Experimentation was conducted using various intensities and materials.
An organic design is laser cut into white acrylic and back-lit with LEDs.
Later prototypes were created from Corian (actual material for kitchen) and backlit with LEDs.
Finished Ambient Canvas
The finished Ambient Canvas, and the finished solar house, the North House. The Ambient Canvas was designed as part of an international solar house competition called Solar Decathlon held at Washington, DC in 2009. North House is the joint collaboration from University of Waterloo, Ryerson University, and Simon Fraser University. It won 4th place.
