Lumicrowd is a proof of concept that emerged within the Proeftuin Media XR & 5G project from a student group work assignment and explored new forms of collective audience interaction at live events. The concept started with a simple question: at concerts, sport matches, and large gatherings, visual effects are often focused on stage screens or lighting rigs, but the audience itself remains a passive observer. What if every attendee could become part of the visual show?

The Lumicrowd concept treats each smartphone in the audience as one pixel within a larger display. Instead of adding extra hardware such as LED wristbands or specialised fixtures, audience members scan a QR code and open a browser-based interface (no app required). Thousands of devices can then be synchronised in real time to produce collective light patterns, wave effects, or spatially coordinated visuals across different seating zones.

To support this collective experience, the platform was designed with live event conditions in mind, including real-time performance for thousands of concurrent users, low network latency, and minimal battery consumption. A spatial grouping mechanism allows organisers to designate zones such as sections of a stadium or arena so that effects can be varied across areas and produce coordinated motion or response patterns.

Beyond its technical aspects, Lumicrowd aimed to shift the audience’s role from passive spectator to active participant. The concept was discussed and refined with stakeholders from the live events and concert industry, helping to validate its relevance and potential in real-world settings.

Although it remains a proof of concept rather than a finished product, Lumicrowd demonstrates how web-based and real-time technologies can be used to create new forms of collective media experiences without additional hardware or complex infrastructure.

Media5G article (Dutch):
Lumicrowd