The second iteration of the local warming project investigating a second approach towards heating people without having to heat spaces.

The ceiling of a room is covered with IR-emitters that turn on and off depending on a person’s presence in their range. Therefore it can be achieved to provide warmth to people without having to heat the air in a room or the building itself, saving a huge part of the energy that would be consumed by conventional central heating systems.

To showcase the effect of dynamically controlled infrared emitters an emissive table was built. The artefact provides an experience of the combined effect of motion tracking and infrared emitters on one’s hands. It also demonstrates the technical feasibility with current motion tracking technologies.

The technology of choice for the project’s people recognition is a Microsoft Kinect that is placed next to the table facing down from above. Its signal is interpreted by a computer which passes on information to an arduino-based control-circuit that ultimately switches the emitters on and off.

Assembly of the Surface from laser-cut acrylic

The heart of the surface, a relay-bank.

Emissive Surface