#ai #obesity #light #dining-room #smart-eating-spaces #mindful-consumption
In the battle against the obesities, a new prospect has emerged: the dining room. As waistlines expand globally, attention turns to the spaces where we consume our calories. The Symposio project, part of S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative, offers a tantalising glimpse into how our homes could become the front line in the fight against obesity.
At the heart of Symposio’s approach is a deceptively simple tool: light. Long known to influence mood and alertness, light is now being harnessed to modulate our eating behaviours. The project’s designer, Greek artist Yiannis Kranidiotis, posits that by manipulating ambient lighting throughout a meal, one can guide diners towards more mindful consumption.
The concept is elegantly straightforward. As diners settle in, warm, dim lighting encourages relaxation and sensory focus. As the meal progresses, the illumination gradually shifts to cooler, brighter hues, subtly signalling that it may be time to put down the fork. This gentle transition aims to attune diners to their own satiety cues, rather than relying on external factors like a clean plate or an empty serving dish.
But Symposio‘s true innovation lies in its integration of artificial intelligence. Using machine learning algorithms, the system analyses data from sensors tracking diners’ eating pace, chewing frequency, and other behavioural indicators. This information is then used to customise lighting transitions for each individual, creating a personalised dining experience that adapts to unique eating patterns and needs.
The potential impact of such technology could be significant. According to the World Health Organization, global obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, with over 1.9 billion adults classified as overweight in 2016. The economic burden is equally staggering: a 2019 study published in BMJ Global Health estimated the global economic impact of obesity at $2 trillion annually, equivalent to 2.8% of the world’s GDP.
In this context, the idea of leveraging our home environments to combat overeating becomes increasingly appealing. We’ve long known that environmental cues play a crucial role in eating behaviours. What’s exciting about this technology is its ability to create personalised nudges without infringing on individual autonomy.
Indeed, the subtlety of Symposio‘s approach may be its greatest strength. Unlike more overt interventions, such as calorie-counting apps or restrictive diets, the light-based system operates in the background, gently guiding rather than forcefully directing.
IN4ART founder Rodolfo and a project partner from Carlo Rati Associati testing out the Symposio set-up.
However, challenges remain. The cost of implementing such technology on a wide scale could be prohibitive, particularly in lower-income households where obesity rates tend to be higher. There are also privacy concerns to consider, as the AI component requires collecting and analysing personal data. Both challenges are currently tackled by providing an open source DYI instruction and by not recording speech.
The potential of smart eating spaces is captivating. For home appliance manufactures, technologies like Symposio could be incorporated into their smart home product lines. Meanwhile, urban planners could explore how these concepts could be applied to public spaces and institutional cafeterias.
As we look to the future, the integration of AI and responsive lighting into our eating environments may become increasingly common. From smart kitchens that help plan healthier meals to dining rooms that adapt to our unique appetites and rhythms, our homes may soon play a much more active role in our dietary choices.
The Symposio project represents a promising new frontier in the fight against overeating. By creating eating spaces that are both beautifully designed and intelligently responsive to our individual needs and behaviours, we may be able to cultivate a more mindful and intuitive approach to nourishment.
In the ongoing struggle against obesity, the spaces where we eat may prove to be our greatest allies. As policymakers and health professionals grapple with this global epidemic, they would do well to consider: sometimes, the solution to a weighty problem may be as simple as the flick of a switch.
PROJECT: Symposio, Hungry EcoCities
