By Aaron Buachie
Project Description
Blindside is an interactive installation that aims to make us question how we navigate the world around us as well as the intricacies that go into planning spaces in order to make them accessible for everyone. Players will be challenged to find their way out of a room with their vision completely obscured, and having only auditory and touch feedback to rely on.
Bio
Aaron Buachie is an Emerging Media major at Hunter College. As a fencer, born and raised in Brooklyn, he enjoys using various forms of digital media to create unique experiences that make us question the design of things around us.
Aaron, I really like your concept and think it will be a really good build in the end. I know under the current circumstances it was particularly difficult to build this as your project is very much based on having space to move around and a maze-like build, but the possibilities for your concept are exciting to think about.
I think there should be some more emphasis on the aim of this project. Who navigates the world based on auditory and touch feedback? Visually impaired people, and there’s so much more to that experience than just having your eyes covered. I think this could be implemented to further your aim of “mak[ing] us question the world around us”. Maybe some research with how visually impaired people interact with the world around them? This might give you an idea on how to better use similar techniques to replicate that experience in the project. You know the yellow bump strip on the subway line that are designed to inform visually impaired people that they have reached the edge? I think applying something along those lines to your project would really further push the idea behind it. Also, perhaps it might make it safer in the long run so people are not randomly bumping into everything.
Overall, really good concept and very exciting that you got so much of it working with the limitations we are all living under.
Blindside is a pretty interesting installation. It reminds me of modern-day devices such as VR and AR headsets that immerse a user in a different environment, albeit with a more simplistic and inexpensive approach.
The approach to using everyday smart devices was an ideal choice. It means you considered how just about anyone can partake in this installation even if during pandemic or access to advanced technologies would prevent a user from participating.
Overall, I think an installation that changes our senses can create a new perspective on how we see the world.