Community Poll

What is it?

Community Poll is an installation that serves to visualize the opinions of Google employees and the people of East Liberty on trending controversial topics. Each topic's answers will be displayed onto the bridge in the format of a 2-color vertical poll, with every poll representing a topic, and every color within an answer. These polls are created with tubes filled with lights that change according to live updates of people's answers. As people choose their answers, the percentage of colors displayed will shift according to the percentage of people who replied with that answer. The goal of this installation is to initiate a dialogue and bring a greater sense of community between the people of East Liberty and Google employees. The anonymity aspect of this installation reminds both groups that allies, even if only allies on small topics, can be found in each other's communities.

User Experience

Kiosks below the bridge will ask passersby questions generated by Google Trends and then prompt them with two replies to choose from. Once chosen, answers will be uploaded and added to the collection of answers displayed on the bridge. Passersby are welcome to answer more questions or explore the statistics of others' answers to other topics. Likewise, these topics can be accessed from within the bridge. LED displays above the vertical polls can be interacted with and Google employees can pull up the same data as the kiosks below and submit their own answers to questions. Live updates to the polls create an energetic and colorful environment to inhabit. Employees can take their breaks by answering polls or watching the visual come to life. The people of East Liberty will have a dynamic display to see close and afar and both groups will have a chance to finally engage.

Design Requirements

This project uses Google Trends to search and generate the top trending and controversial questions to ask. For those passing by, they will have a joyous experience engaging with the installation, giving their two cents on trending topics or just by watching the visual move, allowing for passive interaction. Employees can take their breaks by answering polls or watching the visual come to life. The visual can be viewed and engaged with from within the bridge and outside on the street below.

Data Flow Chart