The world is facing a pandemic since last year which destroyed many people’s plans whether it was traveling plans or any plans to make life better. Mental health is one of the perspectives that is affected so much. Still, people are not able to make it to other cities but the city of Vilnius, Lithuania has come up with an amazing solution.
Designing of this Sci-fi portal
A real-time “portal” to another city. The idea and its design seem difficult but humans made it possible. The design of this portal is similar to the earlier sci-fi movie named Stargate. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University stated in a statement given to the press that The cities of Vilnius in Lithuania and Lublin inaugurated a mirror-like portal that connects both cities in real-time.
The designed Portal looks like circular doors to some other parts of the world as seen in many fictional and sci-fi shows or movies. The team making this project also tells the purpose of choosing a circular-shaped portal as it is widely used in sci-fi symbols for an interactive “bridge.” Portals consist of large screens, cameras, internet connection by which it becomes able to display what’s happening in real-time at their parallel location. Perhaps adding those wormhole capabilities will become possible in the future.
The small part of its design consists of LED lighting that was chosen to display the image of the future city. Adas Meskenas, director of LinkMenu fabrikas says,
“Meaningful projects like these portals are discovered when diverse people succeed in working together and achieving synchronicity. From designing and 3D modeling to digital content development and logistic challenges, such projects require large and multifunctional teams.”
Purpose of making this portal
It is obvious for now that you can not move to another place through this portal, although you can experience and feel other cities. The main purpose for making this sci-fi-like portal is to connect and unite people that are in different areas and are not able to move to other cities due to pandemics. “Social polarization” is one of the major problems faced by the world and such innovation can counter it well.
The two portals, in their specific places, are 606 kilometers apart. This innovation was built by engineers from LinkMenų fabrikas center at Vilnius Tech. This is not a project for one time only, the team has the vision to connect many cities with the same portals and thus to focus more on global collaboration and harmony.
Benediktas Gylys, the president of Benediktas Gylys Foundation, explained in the team’s press statement, “That’s why we have decided to bring the crazy idea of Portal to life. It is called a BRIDGE TO UNITY, thus a call to rise above prejudices, to forget the disagreements of the past, it is an invitation to rise above the illusion of us and them.
Humanity is facing many difficult challenges, be it social polarization, climate changes, or economic issues. And we focus a little bit, it is not the lack of brilliant scientists or activists, leaders, knowledge or technology causing such challenges. It’s tribalism, a lack of empathy, and a narrow perception of the world, which is often limited to our national borders only.”
The portal is located near the train station of Vilnius city while the Lublin portal was established in the city’s central square. It takes five years for the team to organize, build and design this project. The team is now looking to build the same portal to Reykjavik, Iceland, and London, England.
This project does not have the capacity like fictional portals yet it is designed to resemble such portals. It shows how much our technology has grown in recent times and how much it resembles science fiction.