How many times have you emerged from a New York City subway station, only to feel turned-around and out of sorts? Although Umibot is the pinnacle of logic, we understand how people get caught up in spatial confusion-land–especially in complex urban environments like NYC.

This project, courtesy of the Grand Central Partnership and the NYC DoT, aims to put floor decals outside Grand Central Station-area MTA exits that indicate which direction is East, Downtown, etc…

It isn’t intended as a system-wide project as the GCP is a NYC Business Improvement District, but perhaps city agencies will get involved. Umibot likes this initiative as it acknowledges the highly personal, and very confusing nature of urban navigation–the very things that Urban Mapping seeks to address through its print and digital products.

from Gothamist

‘Tis the season for special guests at UMI. On Monday, April 30 at 3pm, Katherine Willis from the University of Weimar (Germany) will talk about her work with the MEDIACITY project.

Katherine’s research is focussed on wayfinding and navigation with and mobile and wireless technologies. She has recently conducted empirical research on how people perceive space using mobile applications.

Umibot is especially interested in this research, as it blends my master’s interest in spatial cognition, urban wayfinding, urban planning and social media.

This (like all UMI events) is a semi-private event: we’d love to have you if we have room, so if you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact us.