Today, I showed Columba at Solid: a wayfinding device for hire bikes that always points to the nearest empty docking station.

It’s an exploration into how the internet, when placed into civic objects and devices, might improve or alter them. In this case: how the bike changes when it becomes a service avatar. The data that represents the state of docking stations is already available; how does using that service change when that data manifests on the bike itself?

There’s lots more about Columba on its project page – video, and a more detailed explanation of the project. Although it’s very much a physical sketch at the moment, it’s a concept I want to keep thinking about, and I’m hoping I’ll find avenues to do so.

Find out more about Columba on its dedicated project page.