Hitonami: Inclusive Personalized Mobility Arenas Experience
Introduction
Tokyo, a bustling metropolis of some 36 million residents, presents a unique challenge of urban mobility. Its intricate train network, serving over nine million commuters daily, is more than a transit hub – it's a vibrant commercial center. As Tokyo faces inevitable shifts in its urban landscape, (affected among other things by?) immigration from rural areas, an aging population, and the rise of immersive media, the question arises:
How can we transform this complex transport network into an efficient, user-centered system that harnesses emerging technologies?
The Technological Horizon: Embracing 6G
The starting point of our research is the potential impact of 6G technology. Poised to revolutionize connectivity in the coming decade, 6G promises unlimited bandwidth, real-time data processing, ultra-low latency, and precise location tracking. This technological leap will introduce new kinds of AI-driven solutions, setting the stage for a transformative era.
Tokyo in 2034: Introducing New Challenges
Imagine Tokyo in 2034: a city where increased urban density meets innovative transportation modes like autonomous vehicles and delivery drones. Here, the digital and physical realms intertwine, creating hybrid spaces that redefine urban living. Tokyo's train stations, already multifunctional hubs, will need to adapt to a rapidly aging population and to the influx of rural residents into urban centers. New needs will emerge, for which inclusive solutions are required.
Speculative Future Tokyo: Rendered Simulation of Mobility Arenas Juxtaposed With the Integration of Emerging Technologies.
Research and Methods: Unraveling the Urban Fabric
Over a period of five months, our team was immersed in a journey of discovery, analysis, and prototyping. We isolated behavioral patterns and human dynamics patterns in the crowded train stations, observing swarm-like movements of commuters and identifying points of friction in user experience.
While the majority of existing research focuses on the more technical aspects of crowd management, we realized that our own interest lies in going beyond the optimization of movement to focus on user-centric design.
Collective Movement Observations: Illustrating human movement behaviors in highly crowded zones, captured from diverse vantage points.
Movement Patterns in High-Density Areas: Illustrating human movement behaviors in highly crowded zones, captured from diverse vantage points.
Addressing Walkability and Sensory Overload
Walkability, a concept pivotal to our approach, emphasizes the importance of the accessibility of urban experiences by foot. This means designing spaces that are easy to navigate, safe, and well-connected. In Tokyo's densest areas, like Shibuya, architectural focal points and clear boundaries are essential for smooth navigation. Taking into consideration the existing sensory overload in such areas, and its amplification in the future, we assume that, without appropriate solutions, crucial navigational cues will be lost on passengers amidst a sea of advertisements and immersive technology elements. This sensory bombardment runs the real risk of creating a stressful and disorienting user journey.
Sensory overload: Individual Feedback Loops: Navigation tasks requires constant decision making.
Behind every taken micro decision there’s an emotional flow of Uncertainty → stress → signal (confirmation) → sense of control.
Iterative Prototyping
Using low-fidelity prototyping, we explored how dense spaces can uphold clear views, define boundaries, reduce stimulus overload, and promote fluent group movement, all based on future 6G technology that enables passersby to choose their level of data granularity.
Conceptualizing Inclusive Personalized Mobility Arenas Experience
Our proposed solution is an AI-driven navigation tool tailored to optimize passenger flow and create adaptable, personal routes. This solution offers both a system for dynamic mobility management and a personal experience for each passenger.
This system features two key components:
Pathfinding:
Imagine dynamic, personalized trail marks on station walls and floors, providing continuous navigation cues tailored to individual needs.
Light Corridor:
During peak hours, this concept will create controllable light pathways that group passengers by destination and personal needs while filtering out peripheral stimuli, thereby ensuring a smooth and efficient transit experience. This concept decreases disorientation and anxiety, and hopefully creates a more pleasant experience for each individual in the crowd.
Conclusion: Embracing Inclusive and Fluent Urban Mobility Experience
As we step into a future shaped by AI and 6G, our focus remains on balancing functionality with accessibility. Speculating and planning for future scenarios in a rapidly evolving world, we aim to design a more harmonious public experience by adopting an inclusive approach. The challenge is to meet the needs of an individual while maintaining order within the larger group.
Credits
Design Team:
Tal Nisim, Yaara Schattner, Adi Simon, Niv Yashar
Team Lead:
Tom Reznikov, Dr. Romi Mikulinsky
Consultants:
Guy Blander, Yuri Klebanov, Naomi Slaney
Institutions:
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israel
The University of Tokyo, DLX Lab, Tokyo, Japan