SMART CREATIVE URBAN ENVIRONMENTS INVESTIGATING USERS‘ SPACIAL EXPERIENCE IN INTERACTIVE OPEN SPACES

Abstract

 The study results provided that most of the participants (experts and users) supported applying interactive landscape applications frequently in Egypt, though their concerns about people‘s reactions to it and their understanding, and insisted on introducing it to the society through public awareness, especially to the low income level category of the society.  This study showed a direct correlation between user‘s preferences to the application and its legibility. According to the results the most preferred pattern had a high legibility rate compared to the other aspects.  Interactive landscape applications represented on vertical planes or walls, such as urban screens, interactive displays and projections, are proved to be the most preferred type according to participants‘ responses for the preference ratings for the patterns and their response to the most appropriate element for installing interactive applications in urban spaces.  Attracting attention is a fundamental perquisite for all the interactive installations, and it could be achieved through strengthening the application‘s legibility, richness and variety.  Enhancing the Variety of the content of the installations and its context will enhance the flexibility of the input and enhance the experience of the space adding Richness to it.  Participants (users and experts) appeared to be more interested in public and semi-public spaces, specially parks, squares and plazas. They appeared to approve applying the idea of interactive landscape applications in these spaces to enrich their own experience in these spaces. So it may be a major part of authorities urban design strategies in the future.