Project 0 - Real-time Visualization of Google Search

Project Description:

The concept is to create two distinctive experiences for both the general public (viewing the exterior of the bridge) and the employees (walking through the interior of the bridge) using the data collected through the Google search engine. 

As one of the most used search engine in the world, Google collects an enormous amount of data about what people search online every day at any time, which could provide valuable insights into what people are most curious about as well as interesting visualization of what's trending on the internet at the moment.

User Experience:

Installation on the exterior of the bridge will be hosted on digital screens that display the trending topics or keywords that are searched the most on Google in real time. Potentially different categories of such topics/keywords at different geographical locations can be displayed at different times of the day. Passengers and people drive through the area will be able to see what is currently the trending local or global topic searched on Google.

The interior exhibition will be hosted on a series of interactive PC screens that displays calming landscapes that are searched by people the most on google earth at the time. The content displayed will be soothing videos or time lapse of the different landscape, accompanied by ambiance music and sound from the nature such as ocean waves or birds in the forest. As the employees walk through, they will be able to stop in front of the installation and scan their phones to get more information like location, weather, geographic conditions and so on. It is meant to be a break for the employees to enjoy natural landscape around the world, and quickly fetch the information about the place if they're interested.

The following diagrams show the basic flow of data throughout the two systems.

How does it fulfill all of the Design Requirements?

The design utilizes data collected through Google search engine, and creates lively visualizations that embody the value and playful spirit of Google as a company. The color theme resemble that of the company, and the exterior display allows for the public to draw connections between Google and their daily life.

The interior installation mainly serves to provide calming and ambient experience for employees passing through and provide them with the opportunity to take a break from work without requiring specific active interactions. At the same time if employees would like to get more information they will be able to acquire those by actively engaging with the display through scanning NFC chips in their phones.

Bill of Materials (BOM):

Exterior display screens: 30,000 - 75,000 depending on resolution, can be a lot cheaper if displayed through projector 

Interior Interactive Display Screens (with PC built in):  Planar Clarity Matrix MutiTouch wall system - 75,000 - 125,000 depending on resolution 

Here is an example of what the exterior display might look like.