Urbanflow is a concept for the city of Helsinki that takes the static high-definition screens that are on display throughout the city and turns them into an urban operating system that “seamlessly integrates city services between the Web, mobile devices, and city screens no matter where you are or intend to be.”
The Urbanflow project is aimed at city visitors that would allow them to plan their trips ahead from the comfort of their homes, and then to access their plan everywhere during their visit. The map is a central element, allowing people to find where they want to go, and then routing them via public transit. The map would also offer hyperlocal information about what is around them as they interact with the city — searching and querying the city itself.
The physical and digital interaction is a compelling vision that offers whole new ways of wayfinding and a more connected populace. Watch the video below for a detailed description and visualization of this vision, which the organizers assert is easily accessible given current technology.
