Exploring the Potential of Depictions with Sun Reflections
Patrick Tobias Fischer, Eva Hornecker, Johann Gielen, Johannes Hartmann, Marco Schmandt, Anna Rack, Marie Bornemann, Felix Dondera · 2015
In this paper we explore alternate projection and imaging mechanisms that don't rely on luminous sources, such as screens or LEDs. We investigate how sunlight can be used along a continuum ranging from non-informational aesthetic lighting to simple controlled reflections of sunlight that provide enough information to depict legible content. Rethinking the pixel as a reflection exposed challenges in mechanics, material and ease of control. We found that slow, precise movements work best. The threshold between pixel and non-pixel provides great potential to add additional aesthetics to a depiction based on sunlight, by transitioning between atmospheric ambient lighting and information representation. Our exploration of depictions without traditional information-rich content provides an alternative to think about ambient, calm and public displays.