Can immersive technology change people's perception towards Climate Change?
As a designer, we all the ability and opportunity towards working on issues that concern us and things that we are passionate about.
Introduction
Climate change and global warming is a global issue which is very important to me as I am a nature lover and I love animals & everyone is being affected by the climate change, but the nature & the environment is most affected and it goes most neglected.
I started by narrowing down to an issue that directly concerns us as a contributing factor towards global warming which led me towards understanding about how the emission of CO2 has changed over the decades and its impact on marine life & the nature. It made me wonder about my conception of thoughts against the idea of confining animals to zoos and the fishes to aquariums, but then I visited the Georgia aquarium in the spring break and couldn’t stop wondering if an aquarium is a safer environment for all these wonderful marine creatures over the vast limits of the oceans & seas!!!
Guiding principles
Show, don’t tell! Make the invisible visible and Think narratively!
Initial Questions/Opinions
- What medium is best for me to portray my concerns regarding the impacts of climate change that effectively reach people?
- Which aspect of the cause and effect of climate change should I focus on to be able to create a difference?
Midterm Presentation
- My proposal was to focus on carbon footprints and do a project which highlights it’s effects on the nature and marine life.
- Feedback:
· Narrow down the scope of the project.
· Why would this project be more impactful than the other existing ones?
· Do you think an individual’s effort matter as much as that of an organization/government?
· ‘Focus on one misperception or issue within climate change that sparks differences in opinion.’
Thoughts Post feedback:
Took a step back to re-think the following-
- How do people perceive things?
- I started off with trying to understand people’s mentality towards this issue. Through the use of immersive technology, I want to understand what people think of climate change. Are they aware that it’s still a prevalent global issue?
- Why do some say that ‘climate change’ is not a real issue?
I believe in the power of visuals and VR/AR being an immersive technology, I feel its impact over an audience is more compared to other mediums. I wonder how impactful would a VR or an AR experience be in effectively putting through forth my message and concern.
Primary read
Why We Disagree about Climate Change: Understanding Controversy, Inaction & Opportunity- By Mike Hulme.
Goal
To understand if immersive technology can be the key to instilling a sense of responsibility in people towards climate change?
My primary goal is to inculcate a sense of awareness amongst young teens about the slow & gradual adverse effects of climate change.
- What do teens think of climate change?
- Do they believe that this global issue is real?
- Do they care about the nature & the marine life?
Audience
Teenagers (10-15yrs.)
- Caring for the nature and instilling habits that do not add to global warming would be more effective and lasting if taught from a young age.
Which aspect of Climate Change?
Effect of Climate change on:
Northern Lights
· Are teens aware of auroras and do they feel they are magical? - SURVEY
· How would they feel if they fade away and become colorless? - FOCUS
Marine life
· Do teens love the magical organisms that live in the depths of the oceans and how much do they care about them? - SURVEY
· Would they be bothered if these creatures disappeared from our lives within a few decades? - FOCUS
How?
- User test at PLAYTECH at DT on 13 April’19.
- Survey questionnaires, VR, Video, Website
Final prototype
- Posters +
- VR Experience +
- Website focusing on the effects of climate change that are slow and gradual, that goes unnoticed.
Research Sources
1. The New School Library & Archives- https://library.newschool.edu/
2. Google Scholars- https://scholar.google.com/
3. Google Patent Search- https://patents.google.com/
4. NASA website- https://climate.nasa.gov/, https://www.nasa.gov/
5. MIT Media Lab Projects- https://www.media.mit.edu/search/?filter=project
6. Google Search for precedent projects
Precedent Projects
1. Before It’s Too Late- http://www.beforeitstoolate.earth/
2. AR Bracelets- https://www.blippar.com/blog/2018/01/25/blippars-ar-enabled-bracelets-highlight-impact-climate-change-davos
3. Miami- https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/street-art-and-augmented-reality-get-real-about-climate-miami
4. The Reality of Global Climate Change- https://climatevr.yale.edu/#about-1
5. Singapore Climate Change VR- https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/step-into-post-climate-change-singapore-with-sts-new-virtual-reality-project
Prototype II: https://sweksha.wixsite.com/parsons/blog/prototype-ii
Thank You
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