While living and creating, man has oriented his actions mainly towards the sense of sight, in a way forgetting about the other senses. Other species living on our planet have developed the ability to perceive in a different way – they have unknown and undeveloped senses in us, for example: magnetic field or UV radiation.
Humanity, by researching and being technologically inspired by nature, is expanding its abilities and prototyping devices that can create new ways for us to obtain information from the world. This is another stage in the development of man and our civilisation, as well as an attempt to increase the potential of our bodies – so-called biohacking. In a similar way, efforts are being made to construct devices that will assist us after we have lost, for example, our sight, hearing or our body is paralysed.
Tremma. A haptic navigation system is a concept of spatial orientation supported by haptic technologies that provide us with information through touch. Using the principle of sensory augmentation, I propose a new sense for the human being which, complementing the other senses, would improve our perception. The result of the whole process is a wearable concept that opens the path for designers to apply the haptic navigation system. The silicone insole with its vibrating motors informing about the space is also part of the tester showing how it works. The whole design process is interesting as an experiment in combining technology and prototyping with classical materials and biomaterials. It is an interweaving of threads: analysis of human sensory experience, electronic, technological issues and form. Moreover, it is an attempt to speculate on the human-computer interface in the future.
And all of this not in order to use yet another technology and prototype yet another object which is supposed to make our lives easier, but in order to answer the question about what directions of technological development we should take in designing intelligent solutions.
Project has started as the bachelor thesis at Design Department of Academy of Art in Szczecin (Poland). The thesis major advisors were: Maciej Karpiak MA (Multidisciplinary Design Studio) and Iga Węglińska PhD (Fashion Design Studio).
Infografika autorstwa Marty Murawskiej
Press & contests:
Awards of mayor of Szczecin for the best research thesis. Me and Renata Ramola as the chosen from Academy of Art in Szczecin
As always the project would not have come into being without collaborations. I am glad that many people felt this project very much and decided to help me with their knowledge and creativity! Glad of you it is moving forward, it is not the last word.
Thank you:
–Maciej Karpiak, PhD Iga Węglińska for cooperation, open heads and beliving in project at bachelor thesis moment;
– Michał Domagała for information on working about sensory augmentation devices from cognitive science perspective;
– Michał Michalski, Jakub Włodarz, Maciej Sadowski for technical advices and support;
– Radosław Czekan for idea precising, motivation, massive support and critical point of view;
– Olga Kiedrowicz-Świtalska for fascinating thesis review and sharing;
– Emilia Łapko, Aleksandra Hojczyk for photograpy consulting;
– Julia Galewicz for help with photos production, post-production and support;
– Kamil Sadłocha, Radomir Majewski for help and support during tester production;
– Marta Murawska, Natalia Rybak for graphic design help;
– all my Friends who made revisions of my texts before publications, sharing opinions about key points or finding typos;
– all my Friends and Family for motivation, involvment and helpful advices;