The real-time video portal connecting New York City and Dublin has reopened with certain adjustments to prevent inappropriate conduct.
Despite being installed in a public park in bustling NYC, where some level of misconduct was expected, the Portal was intended to foster unity and shared experiences among people.
Dublin's portal to New York closed temporarily due to misconduct, including people flashing images of 9/11 and porn. Technical solutions aim to prevent future incidents.Image via https://flatironnomad.nyc/
Reopening with New Measures
Since its recent reopening, TechCrunch reported that the majority of visitors from both sides of the Atlantic have engaged in friendly interactions, waving to each other, bringing along their children and pets, and partaking in typical human interactions.
However, a few individuals exhibited inappropriate behavior, including an OnlyFans model who exposed herself to the portal and another who mooned it.
Meanwhile, individuals on the Dublin side displayed swastikas and images depicting the Twin Towers on fire, prompting officials from both sides to call for a temporary halt.
The primary issue arose from individuals mounting cameras directly in front of the Portal camera, obstructing visitors to the installation from viewing the content on the opposite side.
The organizers made some changes, like putting up a temporary fence around the Portal to stop people from getting too close. They also have one or two people there to help visitors and encourage them to be friendly.
Conceived by Lithuanian artist and entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys, the Portal's operating hours will differ from Gylys's original plan of running 24/7 for the meant time. It will now be operational from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. in New York City and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Dublin.
Portal Reopening Sees Positive Interactions
Portals.org Head of Partnerships Nicolas Klaus expressed surprise at the behavior witnessed during the Portal installation, as it contrasted with previous experiences at a Portal installation between Lithuania and Poland. The atmosphere brought by New Yorkers and Dubliners was notably different.
Klaus highlighted instances of behavior deemed less than ideal, the intention behind which remains uncertain but unsettling. Klaus emphasized that such actions not only disrupted the exhibit's artistic essence but also contradicted its purpose of fostering connections.
He noted that the project's intended vision disappears when an individual covers the Portal camera, obstructing the entire screen. A software solution addressed this issue and prevented individuals from obstructing the camera.
Video Window, the company responsible for the software powering the Portal, developed a machine-learning solution during the Portal's temporary closure to deter such behavior.
Daryl Hutchings, CEO of Video Window, explained that the software operates on a timer, making it straightforward to set specific operating hours.
However, devising a method to dissuade individuals from obstructing the Portal camera with their phones proved to be a more intricate challenge.
According to Hutchings, if a phone or a person's hand obstructs the camera view for an extended period, the software will promptly blur the local camera feed.
Consequently, the image seen by the remote side will also appear blurred. On the side where the incident occurs, a sign indicating that such behavior is prohibited will also be displayed.
The goal is to make it clear to anyone obstructing the camera that such actions are not permitted.
The creators are still fine-tuning the duration of the blur effect, but no incidents have triggered it since the Portal's reopening on Sunday.
This indicates that adding fencing and human guides effectively promotes the positive interactions envisioned by the designers.
