1. Exploring the. Boundaries of. Spatial Intelligence
Exploring the Boundaries of Spatial Intelligence Based on my study of use of mind’s eye in design
By Uday Athavankar

2. Boundaries of spatial intelligence1
Bit about my background
I am an architect and a designer
I plan to present my views as a person who enjoys taking decisions that affect 3D space
I earn my bread doing this
I am in minority here
Not a scientist like you.
I plan to present my ‘views’ …. Some of the views have been developed based on my research on the act of design
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

3. Structure of presentation
Part I
Architect’s interpretation of spatial Intelligence
Part II
Lot of professions deal with spatial issues and learn on the job
Can you systematically develop competence to handle spatial manipulations, but not on the job?
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

4. Boundaries of spatial intelligence1
Quality of built form depends on
how creators handle and manage spatial issues
Relationships of function X & Y : proximity
Access to spaces, sequences of spaces ….
Reduction of distance traveled
What should the object look like …
I assume that such actions need ‘spatial intelligence’
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

5. Boundaries of spatial intelligence2
Managing spatial issues
is associated with vigorous sketching
“ It is difficult to stop architects and designers from sketching ”
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

6. Boundaries of spatial intelligence2
On the other hand
Anecdote of how the famous falling water was designed by FLW in his mind’s eye
Story or reality?
FLW
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

7. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Part 1 is based on my work on how architects solve spatial problems
when blind folded
I have been trying to learn from the visualization strategies that the architects use to tackle spatial issues when blindfolded
My efforts to explore the boundaries must be seen in this context
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

8. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Working definition
Spatial intelligence is purpose driven manipulation of
Location,
Orientation and
Other space related matters
Focusing on exploring the boundaries
Architects seem to outperform themselves
I am not even sure if there are boundaries ….
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

9. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Quick overview
1996 … 97
Curiosity
Designer effortlessly modeled 3D ideas in the mind’s eye
Sculpted the shape in front of him, interacted using hands as tools
Did the hand gestures helped him visualize the shape?
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

10. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Quick overview
1999
Exposed to his gestures and speech, other designers could reconstruct the shape accurately!
Work : More architects - same problem, Same architects different problem …..
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

11. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Quick overview
2003
Change in age group
Blindfolded classroom
Used student pair
Sighted as an
architect partner
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

12. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Quick overview
To sum up
Architects are able to effortlessly
Visualize built form in the mind’s eye
Recall design precedence
Interact and modify it (with hand gestures)
Imagine ambiance of spaces
Simulate use or people using it
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

13. Reaching out in the mind’s space: 2007….08
Decided to push the boundary further by
letting the blindfolded architects into a large hall and asking them to design
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

14. Reaching out in the mind’s space : 2007….08
Visualization strategies
Pacing the spaces in the mind’s eye
Architect physically moved as if mimicking the real world actions within a stationary visualization
Carrying the site on the shoulder
…….
Architect’s presence : Avatars
The data suggests that they had not only visualized the site but were also on site
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

15. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Strategy 1
Pacing in the spaces in the mind’s eye
The visualization was stationary and they moved around in the spaces they created
They were accurate in indicating locations and using these spaces
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

16. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Strategy 1
Turning in a ‘fixed site orientation’
They mimicked as if they were on the real site, building things around altering it.
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

17. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Strategy 2
Carrying the site on the shoulder
Architects moves a few paces and turns his body
The visualization also moves and turns
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

18. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Strategy 2
Carrying the site on the shoulder
It is not clear if the need to move and turn the body was driven by the image in the mind or vice versa
Architects seem to learn to handle this because of
design studios and through
orthographic drawings
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

19. Structure of presentation
Part I
My interpretation of spatial Intelligence
Part II
Lot of professions deal with spatial issues and learn on the job
Can you systematically develop competence to handle spatial manipulations, but not on the job
11/22/2018
Boundaries of spatial intelligence

20. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Part II
But natural that my work with blindfolding architects should influence other exploration
Mind’s Eye Puzzles
Games (using mind’s eye)
Tasks include
Problem solving and decisions based on the
Spatial transformations
Spatial memory
Part of my efforts to explore the boundaries
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

21. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
Puzzles are based on my studies of the
Kinds of spatial problems encountered
Visualization strategies used
Partly based on
Cognitive operation on imagery listed by Kosslyn
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

22. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
Principles used are,
Scan the image, memorize it
Operate on it in the absence of the image
Operations are
Transform: rotate, rotate, invert, integrate ….
Scan images
Generate from audio input:
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

23. Puzzle: Standard paper folding puzzle2 3 1
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

24. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
There are about fifty different types of puzzles
Use different combinations of cognitive operations
Cards are always reversed to force use of mind’s eye
Audio instructions on what, how ….
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

25. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
Verbal instructions on how to assemble the image by joining cards, scan the image and remember it
Cards are reversed to disintegrate the image and
Then present a spatial problem by audio
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

26. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
Teach and practice spatial manipulations in the mind’s eye,
Depend on memory, transformations and problem solving
Play value, challenge & fun
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

27. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Mind’s eye puzzles
Complexity levels are controllable (Seven levels)
Tested for age specificity
Not tested for
How long the effect last
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

28. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games as a route
Specially designed to challenge spatial intelligence
Mixed with
Challenge, win
Fun and entertainment
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

29. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 1
Tangle
Forces mental manipulation of spaces and shape
Two players and double the number of Tangram pieces
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

30. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 1 ?
Move
Opponent’s piece - 40
Your piece ?
Spatial manipulation
in the mind’s eye
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

31. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 2
Discover India
School children have low memory of maps
Rote learnt. Relationships are often not coded
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

32. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 2
Wheel announces the landmark
First player locates the place given
Second player can challenge it. Encouraged as he is given less resources
Correct
location
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

33. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 2
Clues promote education through clues
But resources do not permit using clues it often
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

34. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games: 3 ……
From touch to an image
Shapes are in the pouch
Three shapes make a square
You have to feel and select
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

35. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Games
Besides spatial intelligence
the games
Teach balancing resources with risk
Play value, repeat play
Challenge the children
There is a chance that these demands will dominate the objective of development of spatial intelligence
Games and puzzles
Will the spatial learning last?
I don’t know
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence

36. Boundaries of spatial intelligence
Thank you
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Boundaries of spatial intelligence