THE INNER EAR
CAPTURING & PHYSICALIZING HOME VIBRATION DATA
The Inner Ear is a porcelain ceramic device that captures vibration data via internal sensors activated by touch. Six Inner Ear devices were deployed to individuals in Seattle, WA for one week. After collection, the devices were augmented with physicalized data in 3D-printed ceramic and returned to participants. Each participant received a short documentary about their experience.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Team
WYATT OLSON + LAURA LE
DURATION
2 WEEKS
genre
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Team
WYATT OLSON + LAURA LE
ROLE
INTERACTON DESIGNER
FILMMAKER
VISUAL DESIGNER
Duration
30 WEEKS
type
INTERACTION DESIGN
DESIGN FILMMAKING
DESIGN RESEARCH
CHALLENGES
The Inner Ear was a fun and challenging project. It was ambitious and audacious to choose such an abstract approach to investigate critical questions of data, privacy, and surveillance. This project pushed me to remap my definitions of design and research. Stretching from my original capacity as an interaction designer, I contributed to the development of the visual system while leading the production of the participant documentaries.
PROCESS
I joined the project one year after it had been underway. While I was initially recruited to work on the project website, I migrated to the visual systems work. Once the Inner Ears were deployed I tool charge of photo documentation, and later documentary production. This project was an incredible learning experience, both in technical skill and application of ethics to incredibly sensitive situations.
Interested in learning more about the project? CONTACT ME.
