Zaragoza World Expo to feature MIT-designed "digital water" walls

While it might not quite match the robot invasion of the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, it looks like Zaragoza, Spain's 2008 World Expo won't be lacking for displays of technology either, with an MIT-designed "digital water pavilion" greeting visitors at the entrance. While its practicality may be in question, the pavilion certainly looks to be impressive enough, boasting computer-controlled walls of water that can display scrolling text or images, or automatically form a doorway when it detects a person approaching. To manage that feat, the MIT engineers employed a series solenoid valves that can be opened and closed at high frequency, effectively working, as MIT describes it, "like an inkjet printer on a large scale." It's also apparently not as wasteful as it seems at first glance, relying entirely on recycled water, with the water also eliminating the need for air conditioning.

[Via PhysOrg]

[blueeyesm @ Jul 13th 2007 10:03AM]

:)
Although it may not be practical, I'm sure there are some cities who'd use this as a nice cooling station during scorching hot days in say, Arizona, or Nevada.

Plus it's artistic ;)

[Justin @ Jul 13th 2007 10:07AM]

Hey MIT, the University of Wisconsin has been doing this for over a decade...
Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2LUz2WVcek

http://www.uwm.edu/People/pevnick/index1.html

[rlynd3 @ Jul 13th 2007 1:42PM]

Vid of the pavilion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtMzbeMA58I

[Mark E @ Jul 14th 2007 7:54PM]

yeah, jeep's been doing it forever!

[arcsine @ Jul 13th 2007 10:13AM]

And Jeep's been doing it at auto shows so far this year.

[Dan @ Jul 13th 2007 10:40AM]

Justin beat me to it, but yes, this has been a Jeep staple for the past few years, all designed by Steven Pevnick of University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. University of Wisconsin generally refers to UW-Madison. The additional sensors to create doorways for spectators is a clever addition.

[joakim @ Jul 17th 2007 4:16AM]

reminds me of st:tng episodes set on earth / in san fransisco. like something you would see in public parks in beautiful cities in an utopian future.

[tzaar @ Jul 13th 2007 12:01PM]

yes... but MIT's is infinitely more sexy!

[jaalin @ Jul 13th 2007 12:53PM]

You know what I'd like to see them pull off is a single image or word suspended - instead of the inkjet thing that just shows up and falls out, keep that image pasted in the middle. Let those smart guys at MIT figure that one out!

[fred hegel @ Jul 18th 2007 10:35AM]

or better yet, design one that could display in 3d!

[IdanL @ Jul 13th 2007 7:13PM]

Nice, but I wonder what will happen when the wind blows next to this thing...