Interactive light systems create unique opportunities for different kinds of social interactions in public places. This thesis explores movement as the main interaction to discover and create new ways of engaging in social interaction as well as to encourage people of different age groups to come together and participate. To further explore and answer the questions in mind, different field studies such as interviews and user tests were implemented to gather information on how the pedestrian’s thoughts and actions were. The outcome of these field studies showed that there is a slight shyness in the Swedish people and that they need to be encouraged to start socially interacting. Which through the presented prototype and its mechanics worked and allowed the participants to express their thoughts and feelings regarding an interactive light system that could encourage social interaction in public spaces.

Understanding the nature of private-public interaction within a development process provides crucial insight into the workings of a new development from the initial vision all the way to post-construction property management. The private and public sectors must work together as partners in the development process, understanding the goals of one another while remaining flexible in their own decision making in order to create a development that best meets the vision of both parties. By studying Cedar Park Town Center and Midtown Commons, located in Cedar Park, Texas and Austin, Texas, respectively, we can grow a greater understanding of how the private-public interaction involved in these cases affected two pioneering mixed-use projects in Central Texas. Utilizing personal interviews as well as documentation from both public and private sources, detailed information was gathered regarding the process and interaction used by private and public parties in both developments. / text