‘See’ the flow of information

Theme: Flow of Information

We typically perceive data only through its end results—receiving or storing it—and rarely visualize the process by which data is transmitted through prioritization or networks.

When saving data from a PC to an HDD, that data must be physically moving as electrical signals within this cable.

Shape Writer attempts to visually represent this flow of data.

Operation

Alphabets are extruded based on input
Accumulate in the collection cartridge
Flow along the conveyor
Are stored

You can observe the input information “flowing.”

Configuration

Input Unit
Cartridge Unit
Conveyor Unit
Storage Tank Unit

Cartridge

Using a servo motor, it pushes out the alphabet letters stacked by the extrusion mechanism one position character at a time.

One is prepared for each type of character.

Appendix

Since the “send” function is primary, no restore feature is added to the information storage section.

Installation appeal

Participants can only perceive information as a tangible form when characters appear on the conveyor (the UI also disappears when Enter is pressed)
You can tell someone typed characters before (though you don’t know what they were)

Characters accumulate in the box

Might be interesting like a “capacity” gauge.

Visual Interpretation

Loading UI inspired by progress bars during data transfer

Characters are the information itself

Characters as icons for the conceptual “information”