Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Territory Response

Territory is all around us, and in many spaces you would not think to be territory. In most situations territory only becomes evident when is not a working system. Territory is supposed to be for protection. We seem to only know about territory and protection when it isn't working, not rally protecting those it was supposed to, not helping. With the "security" of some territories it leaves you wondering what insecurity would be like... would those people the territory system has failed be better without the protection of their territory?
There are terms to describe territory and classify it, no trespassing signs, open fields, private property, but territory isn't just private property. These terms are used by the law, homeowner not charged with a crime because police had trespassed on his property. The man who shot at the boys on his property was not charged with a crime because he has the right to protect his property. Territory, and the terms used to describe and the laws that protect it shuts down questions about itself. It can be so complex that people just accept territory for what it is. Territory is supposed to be simple, it is supposed to clarify area for people, but it isn't always so simple or clear. When territory starts to be questioned that's when problems start to happen and that is why territory goes largely unquestioned.Territory can be big like countries or small like rooms. Territory is limitless, just builds and builds. When problems like territory disputes happen there can be physical violence, like between Israel and Palestine.
Territory helps form society and society would have to change significantly to change territory and the ways of territory. Territory also forms society relations. Our "titles" are a form of territory, they classify us in society. Territorial space/ land breaks people down into groups in society as well. Territory is a way to control space, whether naturally conceived or politically.Territory exposes power, international relations decide territory, or countries have territory. Territory is a control strategy. Territory can be used to benefit the countries or leaders that control it. Territory shapes identities, cultures, it is world making. There are steps to territory and how territory is made.
Vertical space is part of modern territory. Territory conveys and contains meaning. meaning can refer back to other texts and laws. Territory may appear to be simple but can be complex in laws. Territory has different meanings based on and around content. Not every enclosed space is a territory. territory has to be signified and carry or convey social power. Territory is complex and changing. Territory is used as a device, territory is a way to simplify and clarify power in social relations in many situations.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Territory Project

Choice of place is important - it should be a site that involves some kind of regulated interaction, exchange or behavior between individuals who are in it.
The quad, where people normally just walk around, play frisbee and lay on the grass.

1. What are the borders of your territory? And how are they defined/marked/known?
The buildings that border the quad: Lincoln Hall, English Building, Administration building, Altgeld Hall, The Union, Noyes Laboratory, Davenport Hall, Foreign Language building, and Folinger Auditorium. Those buildings are the "known" border. The borders are known, people restrict themselves to walking on the sidewalk and lounging in the grass.

2. What kinds of interactions between people and the site are there? Are there objects or architectures that govern how the site is/can be used? people normally just walk around to get to class, there are walking tours, people play frisbee and lay on the grass.The sidewalk usually restricts how people walk in the space, people do not usually stray and walk across the grass

3. What kinds of interactions/encounters between people are there? (is it competitive, collaborative, monetary, familiar, etc?) There are collaborative, monetary and familiar meetings, planned groups

4. Are there distinct roles that people play within the territory? If there is a tour then there is a tour guide, people on the tour, students, professors. The roles are much looser than in other spaces. Roles aren't an important factor in the way people interact with one another in the space. Students may be talking and interacting with professors, students are lounging and playing games on the grass. The only role that keeps a formality is the tour guide who is playing a professional role with the quad as their work space.

5. What rules seem to govern these interactions? And how are the rules known? (Are they implicit or explicit)? It is known interaction, known what is acceptable. People observe what other people are doing and repeat the behavior. so the rules are implicit.

The Game
Explain the specifics of the game:
1. Stakes:
a) What people should experience when playing?
b) What issue/theme is addressed within the game?
c) What is the inspiration/motivation to create this game?
d) How does this game model behavior? Does it reinforce or challenge existing behaviors in the territory?
e) Who is this game for? Who is the ideal audience?

2. Type of game: Is your game collaborative or competitive?

3. Format: Is it a board game-like form with strictly defined spaces or does it extend over the defined territory in a more open manner.

4. Game Play/Rules:
a) Is there a point system?
b) What are the props? (what is needed to play?)
c) How many players?
d) What are the roles/agents in the territory/gamespace? (including non-players)
e) Do people win/can everyone win?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Imaginary platform

What new problem will you be trying to solve?
The issues of public transportation in cities and lack of knowledge in the general public.

Why is this interesting or valuable as a problem?
There is a lot of traffic congestion in cities, commuters are looking for more efficient ways of traveling, and people are conscious of the "green" effort.

Who is your audience?
Anyone who wants to move around in cities.

What form of information? Why?
Visual - large cities have lots of sound, so you want to see the information.
Would have a map like googlemaps so user could see where the bus was, and see if there were other buses coming. Or if someone didnt have a smartphone to see the map there should be some other way to see the information as well.

Will storage/retrieval be voluntary or involuntary?
Storage - involuntary, Retrieval - voluntary

Can items be stored/retrieved by anyone?
Stored - limited, Retrieved - anyone

Is the design for routine usage or one time/ephemeral?
Routine

Relationship between storer/retriever - same person, strangers, friends?
Strangers

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Denis Cosgrove Reading

In today's society with the GPS most maps are coded space of maps that there isn't a real understanding by the map of what the space that I may be in is really like. The maps we live in today on the internet with googleearth we can have a coherent understanding of the space. It was interesting to see how maps have evolved over the years and centuries. I didn't know that maps had different ways of being produced than the typical map we are used to seeing today, they were much more ornate. It was interesting to learn how those ornate maps came to be obsolete and maps of statistics and scientific information. Coded maps were created for simplistic legibility. The abandonment of all ornate, detailed city views for scientific views can be a practical for a map. When I learned to drive I didn't know any streets, I knew landmarks, I enjoy a combination of map and landmark... the combination of the logical with the visual.