flokk

flokk offers artists, designers, architects and manufacturers an open platform for developing interactive lighting solutions. It was created by iart within the CTI research project "Transformative Räume und Objekte" (Transformative Spaces and Objects). The objective of the research conducted by the HGK Basel in collaboration with industry partners was to explore and experiment with the innovation potential of the OLED as a light source. flokk can be modularly combined and consists of both hardware and software components. The electronic system is a mere 3.9 mm thin, fits in between two square OLED plates and can control up to nine OLEDs at the same time. In addition, it houses a number of sensors, reacting to light, temperature, touch, sound and proximity, among others. All flokk elements are connected via WiFi. Together they form a network of independent nodes, each element aware of its position in relation to its neighbours.

flokk luminaires and installations can react to one another, environmental triggers and internet data and are therefore able to display information in the form of light effects (e.g. patterns of clouds). An algorithm ensures that the luminance in the room remains at a constant level, allowing for an even and pleasant lighting. Thus, if one OLED is dimmed, the opposite will shine brighter, and vice versa.

The first luminaires developed with flokk were presented in the exhibition "OLED – Licht der Zukunft?" (OLED- Light of the Future?) at the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur (10 May until 18 October 2015). For example, the luminaire CIRRUS 64 reacted to visitors in its proximity, CIRRUS 16 interpreted weather data and GRID 16 visualised acoustic signals.