Headway

This project originated and evolved as part of a college coursework, driven by a deep commitment to creating meaningful interactive art experiences. Our focus centred on catering to individuals affiliated with the organisation 'Headway,' particularly those navigating the complexities of life post-brain injury. The primary aim was to craft a workshop or art experience that was not only inclusive but also accessible, taking into careful consideration the myriad challenges confronting this distinct demographic. These challenges encompassed a spectrum of limitations, ranging from motor skills impairments to physical disabilities such as bilateral paralysis.

Project type → Interactive Art
Collaborator → Mohd Wani, Vaishakhi Wasnik
Year → 2024

The Process
The project leveraged the capabilities of Touch Designer and Kinect technology to craft a dynamic and immersive experience. Utilising touch-sensitive interfaces and adaptive control systems developed within Touch Designer, we constructed a responsive and captivating multi-sensory environment. The incorporation of Kinect for precise body tracking further enriched the interactive dimension, empowering participants to convey themselves through nuanced gestures and motions. Throughout the iterative design journey, input from the Headway community and feedback from mentors and peers proved instrumental in honing and perfecting the experience. We remained committed to ensuring accessibility for a broad spectrum of users, allowing for movements to be executed with either the right or left hand, catering to individual preferences and abilities.

The Experience
The experience was divided into two distinct parts, each offering a unique and engaging interaction. In the first segment, participants encountered two luminous simulations, one red and the other blue, enhanced with Optical Flow technology. These simulations responded independently to movements, with each hand controlling one simulation. This setup fostered a sense of agency and autonomy, allowing participants to explore the interactive space at their own pace.

The second part of the experience introduced the Particle GPU, a dynamic reactive particle system designed to evoke a sense of tranquility and enjoyment. Participants were immersed in a visually captivating environment where their movements triggered mesmerizing particle effects, creating a fluid and immersive interaction. The goal was to provide a calming and therapeutic experience for the intended audience, encouraging relaxation and engagement with the art installation.