Projects

Responsible data use ‘Digitale Gracht’

'Responsible Data use 'Digitale Gracht' (i.e. Digital Canal') aims to restructure Amsterdam's waterways with a focus on responsibility, transparency, and public values.

Pilots in Amsterdam: What does that sensor actually do?

In various locations across Amsterdam, we explored how to communicate effectively about the use of sensors in public spaces.

Digital Detox: Disconnect to Reconnect

This project seeks to explore and implement creative strategies to help young people disconnect from their phones and reconnect with the world around them.

Listening to our Cities

Understanding how noise pollution is perceived with smart sensors and human feedback.

Re-imagining navigation software to support exploring

The rapid spread of GPS-enabled smartphones since the early 2000s has fundamentally changed navigation in the city. Interaction Designer Laura de Groot explored the potential downsides of mobile navigation software and re-imagined navigation software to support exploring.

Design sprint tools for third-party scrutiny

Cities increasingly use algorithms to govern daily life and support decision-making. At the same time, algorithmic decision-making can harm people’s fundamental human right to autonomy. Can we develop AI that is open and responsive to dispute? Our team designed a speculative dashboard for people to scrutinize a specific algorithmic system.

Code the Streets

With cities continuously growing, so does the number of people that move around. This gives rise to the challenge of finding ways to manage urban mobility. What does urban mobility look like in the future? As part of the Code the Streets project, we focus on responsible and speculative design and its potential to shape the cityscape of the future.

Relaunch mmWave sensor

As a continuation of the mmWave project we have installed three sensors on the Marineterrein to improve the mmWave sensor as a fully-fledged, privacy-friendly alternative for monitoring crowd movements.

Citizen communication and participation regarding sensors

Smart city systems are on the rise. Together with national partners we are working towards a standard communication approach to enhance awareness on the use of sensors and, with that, the involvement of citizens.

Robots to keep public spaces clean. Is this the future for smart cities?

Amidst Amsterdam’s vibrant canals and historic streets, the need for efficient waste management is a pressing concern. Imagine a combination of human know-how and robot magic, working together to keep our city clean. Two MSc students explored how robotics can successfully reshape our urban landscape.

Contestable AI: designing responsible decision-making systems

'Contestable AI' explores algorithmic decision-making systems that are open and responsive to dispute.

RAAK-PRO: deploying ethical technology

With this project we aim to help professionals from different sectors develop an integrated, value-based design approach for smart city technologies’ ethical implementation. We do so by focusing on the concrete and urgent case of machine-vision in public space.