Routes is an alternative signage system that allows strangers to discover the city’s shortcuts, experiencing the city in a way that makes them feel local. When the user activates the installation a ‘guide’ appears and shows the path by light and sound.
The name of the installation uses the word’s homophone property to describe this aspect. Describes the journey (route) and the sense of belonging to the place (root). The installation is designed for a special type of tourist, one we’ve called die-hard tourist. A die-hard tourist (DHT) is a committed visitor. People who are DHT love the place they visit. They are not conformed to what a tourist guide has to say about a certain place. They want to feel local.
Routes uses sounds and light projections to involve the user in an active way. The user enters the first sensible zone and a door opens. Once the user enters the Sotoportego the door closes. The user in this case hears only the sound of the door closing. When the use is inside the Sotoportego, footsteps appear accompanied by footfall sounds and guide him or her until the end of the Sotoportego. When the user exits the Sotoportego the guide will be purely sound wise because the rest of the shortcut is outdoors. When the user finishes the whole route the sound of a door closing is activated. We designed and made a prototype that shows the main part of the experience. (We apologize for the darkness of the video)
For further information about the project please visit www.interaction-venice.com