A live video portal connecting New York and Dublin has been reopened after organizers installed sensors designed to prevent inappropriate behavior by passers-by. The portal had been shut down a week earlier due to incidents including a New York woman exposing her breasts.
The Portal sculpture, which opened earlier this month, features a large circular screen in New York’s Flatiron district linked to a corresponding screen in central Dublin, displaying a live video feed between the two locations.
Nollaig Fahy, a programme manager for the Dublin City Council Culture Company, acknowledged the issue, stating, “There is only a handful of people that have misbehaved. Unfortunately, that’s going to happen in the public realm.”
To address the problem, a sensor system has been implemented to blur the video feed at both ends if individuals get too close to the camera. Additionally, the portal will now operate with limited hours and physical barriers to prevent close contact, according to a statement from Dublin City Council.
The portal’s live feed was restored on Monday, and it continues to connect the two cities with enhanced measures to ensure appropriate use.
