NATURE LOG CONCEPT
I had various initial concepts in mind for this project, the earliest of which features on my Digital Interaction Concept board. The idea was to have an app which would act as a sort of digital nature log for the user. The app would feature a camera setting which would allow users to scan a plant or animal in order to gain access to information about them and to enter them into their log.
This concept fitted the brief well but I wasn’t happy with the idea as a whole. I never really felt excited about it or enjoyed working on it which is what prompted me discard it when I started on the main part of the project in the final 4 weeks.
MENTAL CAMERA FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CONCEPT
My second concept was based on helping the visually Impaired reconnect with nature through an interactive installation. I was very interested by this concept and I feel this was what got me so exited about it in the first place. I began looking into how a mental image is created and what would be the best way to create this experience for the visually impaired.
The idea was to create a room which would generate a mental image of an environment, only using the senses; sound, touch and smell. I came across an article on creating mental images and it mentioned building up the senses like building blocks is the best way to create an effective image. This simulation would create an experience of nature for the visually impaired and the non- visually impaired alike.
FINAL CONCEPT DESICION
However, after discussions with my tutor I decided this concept wasn’t going to work. I came to the conclusion that the visually impaired can still experience these types of things without the help of an installation and can most likely get a better experience by just going outside. After I licked the wounds of my crushing but seemingly obvious defeat, I started looking again at a more digital concept, and made the final decision that I was going to work on an app.
I still wanted to incorporate some of my research into the blind/ sensory photography into the concept. During my research I came across an interview with an expert on sensory photography, he mentioned that a lot of blind photographers hold their camera to either their head or chest in order to keep track of what direction their camera is pointing. It was this idea that inspired the basis for my chosen concept.
INITIAL CONCEPT BOARDS
