Hardware
UK high-tech plaza home to LED totems
December 9, 2025
A circle of 12 double-sided LED totems, each measuring two meters high, is part of a high-tech plaza installed in city center of Sunderland, U.K.
The plaza, called Pixel Plaza, also boasts AI, ultrasonic sensors and surround sound to create an immersive experience, according to a press release.
The totems use ultrasonic sensors to detect movement and proximity of people nearby, responding with dynamic visuals and surround-sound audio to provide a multi-sensory public experience.
Totems consist of several applications running on local servers and a controller connected to the totem displays. Powered in the back end by a P2P wireless mmWave network, the 5G connectivity provides seamless low-latency data transmission between sensors, displays and user devices.
By interacting with totems, people can stream 360° immersive content to their own devices. The LED screens also display ambient animations which react in real-time to environmental factors such as maritime and weather data.
Pixel Plaza was created by the Sunderland City Council and immersive technology company Hot Dark Matter, enabled by a private 5G network from Sunderland's smart city partner Boldyn Networks.
"It's incredible to see this interactive display in place and demonstrate the imaginative and inventive ways we can use our smart city's cutting-edge digital infrastructure to enhance the visitor experience in and around the city. It brings a fantastic opportunity for people to interact and enjoy the technology with their family and friends. Sunderland is a smart city that is using innovations like this not only for our residents to enjoy, but to create a place we can be proud to welcome people along to," Liz St Louis, director of smart cities and enabling services at Sunderland City Council, said in the release.
