For the past couple of years, I have been questioning and exploring the meaning of human-machine interaction and learning the basics of interactive installations. As a graduate student at CSU Eastbay, California, I am currently exploring (with three cohorts), how we might use interactive technology to mitigate or induce understanding in society. This project is crafted as a Thesis project code named “Wear My Story”.
The concept of “Wear My Story” project is an art and interactive/augmented reality installation that uses technology in a playful way to explore and underscore the intersection between the human perception and treatment of others through storyline exposures to first impressions and the experience of walking in another person’s shoes.
Often, people judge others by first glance which creates misunderstandings, misconceptions, and stereotypical encounters. The underlying research question behind this project is “how might we use technology to mitigate social and cultural misunderstanding and promote peace and empathy?” The interactive experience would present diverse perspectives and understanding of human life journeys through narrative videos and audios and invite users to participate by using interactive objects to control the story. Thus, expose the user a specific experience.
The research would examine five areas of interactive experiences such as: Racism, Gender, Religion, Homelessness, and Shaming. The end result is to establish an understanding and generate empathy through the experiences of others to help mitigate or reduce the psychological and physiological outcomes rooted in real life situations. The core technology would be embedded infrared sensors, actuators, interactive programs and objects relating to the specific narrative presentation.
The research spans collecting raw video footage and documentations, programing, building the installation, prototyping, and user testing. Conversely, the goal for the Fall Quarter is: (1) Write the interactive algorithm/code, (2) Define the sensors and hardware, (3) Create a minimum of 20 video clips, (4) Prototype and user testing, and (5) Design the physical space or installation.
Kenimah.com 