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A new interactive display in Denver International Airport’s B Concourse aims to bring more playtime to travelers’ lives.
“Open Windows” — a huge, futuristic grid of glowing LED discs resembling a massive Connect Four game — uses 3-D cameras, mathematical algorithms and the kinetic energy of passers-by to create a light show near Gate B51.
Interesting, but what’s the point? Turns out, in addition to being fun, the display is one piece of a bigger goal of making DIA the connecting hub of choice, said spokesman Heath Montgomery.
In the next two to three years, the airport is transforming about 75 percent of its 140 shops and restaurants, primarily because of expiring leases, Montgomery said.
DIA also is considering more installations such as “Open Windows” throughout the airport to bring more fun to people’s travels — that is, if people enjoy it, Montgomery said.
“Think of it as a proof of concept. If this is well-received, if we get good feedback, if it’s interesting and entertaining to people, we can do more of these,” he said. “It’s part of the overall customer experience. We’re looking at this as a true experiment to see how we can get more engaged with people.”
While it may sound esoteric — even frivolous — it takes only a few minutes of observation to understand how “Open Windows” engages people. In a span of five minutes, about a dozen people stopped to interact with the wall — waving their arms around, attempting to make light patterns and chatting with fellow travelers about how it works.
The exhibit caught the eye of Scott Miller and Mike Stuart, both on a layover at DIA en route to Oaxaca, Mexico, from their home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“It looks like something from Burning Man,” Miller said, referring to the annual gathering at Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create a temporary metropolis. “This is great to run into and just see fun in action.”
“Open Windows” was created by Signal-to-Noise Media Labs, a Denver-based collective of scientists, engineers, artists and other technology-savvy folks. The creation, installation and future programming cost $39,000, which came from the airport’s commercial budget, Montgomery said.
Signal-to-Noise’s only directive was to create something “interesting, creative and engaging” for travelers, Montgomery said.
“This was an open book,” he said. “We wanted something that’s going to catch people’s attention, and maybe they’re not sure how to use it, but maybe they discover while standing there.”
Signal-to-Noise occasionally will change the programming for “Open Windows.” Future iterations could involve sound, music or talking.
The possibilities are endless, Montgomery said, and it’s sign that the airport isn’t afraid to experiment with new things.
“We want to be known as an engaging, relaxing and fun airport among the nation’s best,” he said. “This is just one small piece of that puzzle.”
Laura Keeney: 303-954-1337, lkeeney@denverpost.com or twitter.com/LauraKeeney
