An interactive pavilion known as ColoniaTecne is on display in San Jose, CA. It works as a spy to monitor the coming and going of visitors. The piece itself was inspired by coral reefs who collect and share information from the environment

The ColoniaTecne consists of a network of sensors and LED lights that monitor the space and pass information to the rest of the pavilion by way of a glowing arch. This piece was created by BIOS Design Collective and features 53 scales, each containing an LED light and a microprocessor.

Video: Coloniatecne Lighting 1

The scales are built into the wooden skeleton and as visitors pass through or around, the scales sense movement and respond through light.

They also pass information on to the other scales according to a set program and those scales then respond with their own light. Sometimes the pavilion responds in a rapid wave of light, other times the pavilion responds with a slow trickle.

The ColoniaTecne will be on display in downtown San Jose on East San Carlos Street and First Street through February 1.