variate Labs - V3.0
Variate Labs V3.0 is up, check it out.
Archive for About Me
ACADIA 2008 - Miles Kemp Presentation
Miles will be presenting at ACADIA 2008, October 16-19. Miles will be talking about how new trends in the design of interactive interfaces can influence the ways we design interactive space.
Currently, a new interactive movement is beginning to take place in architecture whereby we are seeing increased desire to create space that has the ability to dynamically interact with users. A number of emerging technologies and insights are being made in paralleling fields that will have a vast influence on future spatial interactivity.
Microsoft - Surface Multi-touch Table
Dubbed “Surface” and five years in the making, it’s set to establish a paradigm of what Microsoft calls “surface computers” which use touch as the sole method of input.
Painting with surface sounds particularly intuitive (and fun): you can use a paint brush or simply dip your fingers into virtual paint cups. Photo resizing and stacking works much like the iPhone’s zoom gestures. Also cool is the capacity for multiple users.
With the units running $10,000, Microsoft expects prices to plummet over the next three to five years to the point they’ll be in your homes. In the meantime you’ll be able to play with them at T-Mobile stores, Harrah’s and Sheraton hotels.
web link here
At Schematic Inc. , I worked on designing a new music application and attract mode as well as reskinning the existing applications. Go Schematic!
Robert Miles Kemp – Metamorphic Space
Miles Kemp’s Masters Thesis at Southern California Institute of Architecture looked at the logic behind robot precedents at the Cornell and Xerox Parc and developed a series of robot prototypes that related to reconfigurable architectural space.
The main idea behind this project was to develop a series of self-similar nested shapes that have the ability to be reprogrammed by the user post-production to accommodate changing demands. To accomplish this task in architectural terms he developed an entire palette of robots (materials, interactivity, and mechanical) that come together at specific instances to achieve a desired geometry.
The scale of the module was extremely important. With technology getting smaller and smaller (nano scale) this project envisioned that these objects would be the size of a fingernail and have the ability to change location. Self similar modules could make new physical connections and move around each other based on connections of self-similar parts.
Robert Miles Kemp - Bio
Robert Miles Kemp
Miles loves technology, in particular, robots, interactive interfaces, automated objects, re-programmable systems and man made machines (especially huge machines, SRL, Bagger 288, Japanese Landwalkers, etc.).
Miles Kemp is the founder and principal of Variate LABS and Series Design/Build. Miles is currently developing a number of interface, robotic and spatial projects in Los Angeles, New York, London, Mexico City and Munich. Miles also works as a Senior User Experience Designer and Information Architect for Schematic Inc. specifically developing next generation interfaces for web, touch, gesture and other emerging technology platforms. In addition to his professional work, Miles also created and moderates a blog about robotics and emerging technologies in architecture, www.spatialrobots.com.
His work and research is centered on developing and understanding interactive architecture, primarily focusing on user-driven reconfigurable space and robotics. He has been published in numerous international articles and has lectured multiple times on this subject. Miles thesis project on Nano-scale Reprogrammable Space has been widely published and continues to be used as reference for current robotic projects in architecture. Before developing interfaces and robotics, Miles worked in the architecture industry for over twelve years and played a major design role in over sixty built projects. Miles’ first book, entitled iA:interactive Architecture; the history and future of interactive space, co-authored with Michael Fox, will be commercially available through Princeton Architectural Press January 15th.
Variate LABS was founded by Miles Kemp in 2003 as a means to investigate and design interactive projects in all types of mediums. Variate Labs is a group dedicated to strategizing, designing and building interactive information systems. Variate Labs works in all types of digital and physical mediums but are particularly interested in projects that involve a synthesis of the two with emphasis on spatiality. Our work includes collaborations and independent projects in web, broadcast, multi-touch and gesture based interfaces, graphic design, robotics, manufacturing, prototyping and interactive architecture.
Series Design/Build was founded by Miles Kemp in 2005 as a means to argue against the inflexibility of built architecture around us. Instead, series proposes that objects and built environments should be designed to offer a variety of potential results from a basic model. Series calls this type of built flexibility “variated architecture”. Variated architecture has the flexibility to be manipulated before and after production in order to accommodate the evolving needs of the user over time. Series is currently developing multiple patent submissions that involve re-programmable building systems, interactive architecture, and handheld products.
Spatial Robots, created by Miles Kemp in 2007, is a blog dedicated to cataloging, critiquing and promoting interactive spatial systems and emerging technology in architecture. This website showcases interfaces, media, websites, robots, nanotechnology, objects, materials and logic with emphasis placed on being interactive and spatial (3-D).
Miles received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland and his Masters degree in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-ARC).
Miles grew up on a farm in rural Easton, Maryland, building boats and houses with his father and growing plants and shearing sheep with his mother. Besides his professional interests, Miles enjoys developing and unscientifically testing chili recipes for future chili competitions (hoping this will be the year). Miles spent two years performing local law 11 inspections of skyscrapers in New York and rode scaffold lifts up and down the exteriors (some as high as 675 feet!). Except for Alaska and Hawaii, Miles have been to every one of the continental states and has driven across the US four times.
Link to bio
