USELESS NETWORKS

What is useless? Can we as designers, always striving to create useful, relevant experiences, create a system that operates on the complete opposite end of the spectrum?

Useless Networks is a interactive project that addresses and assumes a massively networked and sensored world. Our project touches upon the potential shortcomings and pitfalls of such a world, and creates a robust information network that, for all its technology, is inherently useless.

The Wrong Information at the Right Time; The Right Information at the Wrong time
The Useless Networks project address the idea that information, valuable and powerful as it is, can quickly become useless, even ridiculous, when it comes out of context or at the wrong time. The project deals with the user having access to the wrong information at the right time, and the right information at the wrong time.

The project consists of two main components that come together and intersect at school's main access point: the entrance to the school from the student parking lot. Everyone who comes to Art Center enters and exits through these doors. The two parts exist on either side of the school door, one, a sign stating the number of empty spots in the parking lot, placed above the entrance side of the door, the other, a sign stating the number of students waiting in line in the cafeteria, placed above the exit side. Various infrared sensors are set up throughout the school parking lot and in the student cafeteria counting the number of cars are in the lot, and how many students are in line in the cafeteria.

Empty Spots in the Parking Lot
After parking your car, as you walk into the school, you see above the entrance way, "There are currently ___ empty spots in the parking lot." This information, though useful in a certain context, at a certain place and time, is useless--you've just parked your car, have already found a spot, and are on your way into campus. You don't need to know how many spots are in the parking lot. It's the right information at the wrong time.

People in Line at the Cafeteria
At the end of the day, after you've packed up all your supplies and are leaving school, you see above the exit "There are currently ___ people in line at the cafeteria." This information, though useful in a certain context, and at a certain place and time, is useless--you've finished doing everything you need to do at school, have packed up your things, and are ready to leave to go home. You don't need to know how many people are in line at the cafeteria.