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Melting Distance



Interactive Installation | Physical, Arduino


Role: Engineer, Designer

2021 | 3-Week Project | 2 People Team




Even though we are separated by invisible barrier at this special time, the desire to build the connection between us is unquenchable. One day, the iceberg melt, the bridge built, and we are connected again.



My Role
Designer, Engineer

Genre
Interactive Installation

Tool
Arduino, Blender, Rhino


Background


In the context of the pandemic, because of the need for social distancing, many places setup a transparent divider between people. Although our sense of sight and hearing is not affected, the most important physical connection and interaction between people is separated. In this project, we try to convey that even though we are separated, the desire for us to build our connection with beloved is unquenchable.







Ideation


At the beginning, the idea is to design a dividing board in between two people, which people can interact on two sides. And visually they are connected, but physically separated by the board. And we came to the idea of having a transparent box and having some visual effect in the box to indicate the connection.

Dividing boards



Then, we decided to use ferrofluid to indicate the invisible connection between two. And designed the installation in the shape of iceberg as the metaphor of the interaction is freeze during pandemic.

When two people on the two sides of the installation use the magnets to connect the ferrofluid between them, icebergs will be illuminated. When they interact with each other in different ways, there will be different lighting effects. The purpose of this project is to rethink the way people interact with each other and to encourage an alternative and safe way to deepen that connection.
Ferrofluid
Ferrofluid
Icebergs



Interaction Design


Core loop:


Apporach to the installation

Different light effect

Take different action


Goal:
Finding the meanings behind each light effect
Make the bridge between fingers by the ferrofluid


User Journey:

first person close to the installation: blue breath light

second person comes: blue breath light

When their hands at the same position: orange light effect


At different position: flowing blue light effect
flowing to the direction ofanother person’s hand




Building & Iteration


Physical Computing


Prototype





Olivia Yin ︎ ︎  ︎  ︎ ︎ oliviayinjx@gmail.com ︎︎