The idea -
The deliverable requirement for the last micro-challenge was to create an interactive digital or physical visual that uses the body as an input.
We initially began the process with ideating on different ways to incorporate a soil button and making the body a part of it. We first thought of collecting different soil samples from around Barcelona, once stepped on a specific soil sample, a visual would be triggered that showed the location and the quality of soil. However, we realized we were not playing around with the concept of the body and making it as interactive as possible. After a lot of different discussions with faculty members and within each other, we finalized on the idea of using the body to complete the circuit, and through the electrical conductivity that passes within the body when stepped on soil barefoot, a speculative visual would be triggered. We also experimented with a DIY heart rate sensor to potentially add to the interactive process, however we were unable to link it to the narrative and tried to keep it as simple as possible.
Final Idea - Once stepped barefoot on the soil button, the circuit is closed through the conductivity flow within the body. The closing of this circuit triggers a speculative visual that is then shown digitally on a screen.
The first step in order to achieve that was to receive different readings from the soil button when the circuit is completed from human touch.
The second step was to create the interactive visual.
The third step was to connect the two - to make sure when the circuit is closed from the body touch, the visual is triggered
The fourth step was to present and to make sure everything worked - and as a bonus we had everyone in the class hold hands to make the visual much larger and interactive and it worked!
Below is the detailed repository you can read to see all the steps taken with images and the code!
The last micro-challenge was a fun challenge and definitely not 'micro'. It was an intense week of learning, experimenting, failing and compromise. I learned a lot and realized how large and heavy the potential of micro-bacterial activity can be. Reflecting on this project, I'm struck by the journey we embarked on to bring together the physical and the digital in a seamless interaction. Our experiment with the soil button exemplified this fusion, where the simplicity of stepping barefoot on soil was transformed into a conduit for connectivity and creativity.
The initial challenge we faced was understanding how to harness the conductivity flow within the body to complete the circuit of the soil button. This required careful calibration and experimentation to ensure reliable readings. Through persistence and collaboration, we overcame this hurdle, laying the groundwork for the subsequent steps.
Creating the interactive visual was a creative endeavor that demanded both technical skill and artistic vision. We had to translate the abstract concept of speculative visuals into a tangible digital format that could effectively convey the experience triggered by the closed circuit. This process pushed us to explore new tools and techniques, fostering innovation and ingenuity.
The true magic happened when we successfully connected the physical and digital elements, marrying the sensation of human touch with the visual manifestation on screen. This integration was the culmination of our efforts, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the potential for technology to augment our sensory experiences.
Presenting our project to the class was a moment of pride and validation. Seeing everything come together seamlessly was immensely satisfying, affirming the effectiveness of our approach and the strength of our teamwork. And the icing on the cake was the spontaneous decision to involve everyone in the class, amplifying the impact of our interactive visual and fostering a sense of collective engagement and wonder.
In hindsight, our seminar project was not just about creating a novel interaction but about exploring the boundaries of human-machine collaboration and reimagining the possibilities of interface design. It was a journey of discovery, experimentation, and ultimately, realization, leaving us inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of interactive technology and human creativity.
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