Abstract

I believe we can significantly increase our sense of existence by feeling and understanding our environment. This research project explores the idea of using real-time environmental data like temperature, wind, and visibility to create dynamic art. The purpose of this project is to provide an alternative way of understanding weather data through visual methods, enabling people to feel, think and receive the weather from a different perspective.

Research

Temperature, wind speed, and humidity are invisible, but they significantly impact us. Exposure to bodies of water has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase cognitive functioning. On days with higher barometric pressure, people tend to be more agreeable, more conscientious, and less open to new experiences. Extreme weather temperature can lead to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in affected populations. Inspired by Refik Anadol's dynamic visualization of weather data and Olafur Eliasson's immersive installations, I aim to express the invisible surroundings through a weather data visualization project. Instead of using strong colors that interfere with the visualization's feeling, I will use neutral colors and abstract expressions to convey the force and intensity of the weather. By collecting real-time data and transforming it into a dynamic visual experience, my project aims to create a new way of understanding and engaging with our environment.

Technical Details

Collect Data: I use openweathermap's API to collect the desired data, including temperature, wind speed, and humidity. Match Data to Visual Rule: I match the collected data with visual rules to convey the weather's characteristics. For instance, use warmth to represent temperature, force to represent wind speed, and intensity to represent humidity. Implement the Dynamic Variables: Using P5.js, I will write a force and form of movement to develop the project's dynamic visual experience. I implement the dynamic variables into the code.