Ground Truth Bike Art Project Uses GPS to Adjust Resistance
TL;DR. An artist created a smart device for Citi Bikes that dynamically alters pedaling resistance based on real-time rent data for New York City neighborhoods. - The "Ground Truth" device uses GPS and an onboard database of US Census Bureau economic data to detect rent-burdened areas. - A microcontroller then activates a small motor to apply the bike's brake, making it harder for riders to pedal. - The project aims to provide a tangible, physical experience of income inequality and housing affordability challenges. - The artist previously developed an app that used Covid data to adjust screen brightness, emphasizing data visualization.
- Ground Truth is an art project that equips Citi Bikes with a device to vary pedal resistance.
- The device uses GPS to cross-reference location with US Census Bureau data on rent burden.
- In rent-burdened neighborhoods, a microcontroller triggers the brakes, increasing pedaling difficulty.
- The creator, Justin Blinder, received a