DANMING ZHANG
ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE
Summary
ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE：
Using AR interaction design to reduce the effects of social distance through the ‘Metaverse’
Global daily life has seen huge levels of disruption since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic: prevention and control measures have necessarily yet worryingly removed people from normal, healthy social environments (Nadia Jebril, 2020).
Through the continuous exploration of nature during this time - in the park, in the flower exhibition, in the several flower arrangements I have participated in - I noticed how these flowers contributed to the relief from these strange times. It is for this reason I wished to experiment with combining flowers and digital art, redesigning them from my point of view.
Taking the concept of the ‘Therapeutic Landscape’ as the starting point, this article explores the interactive relationship between visual art and audience interaction used to generate it in a continuous, symbiotic relationship. Specifically, the combination of digital art and natural plants used to alleviate the psychological barriers or negative effects caused by the mandatory social distancing measures during the pandemic. This project aims to understand what kind of psychological changes people will experience as a result of this artistic intervention which will be created through interactive design based on Augmented Reality (AR) technology, combined with Virtual Reality (VR) technology with design concepts. Starting from real physical inputs, the system uses images and sensor data to perceive and understand the three-dimensional world through digital imaging, merging the two to create a new space that combines the real world with the virtual world.
I believe in the healing power and advantages of nature and the use of technology in the future. This project explores how emerging AR technology can be applied to the field of digital art design, exploring how this approach can improve the mood of the audience by presenting positive visual effects through interaction with an immersive environment.
Key words: Post-pandemic / Augmented Reality / Therapeutic Landscape / Digital Art / Psychological rehabilitation
Research Assets
This project looks at how the distance and attendant anxiety caused by prolonged isolation and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic can be relieved through immersive digital art. At present, the academic research on the term ‘immersion’ mainly focuses on the use of virtual technology and its effects on psychological concerns. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first proposed the concept of ‘flow’: he states that an immersive experience refers to an emotional experience that is highly integrated with action and consciousness after people focus on one particular thing (Csikszentmihalyi, M, 1997). American new media scholar Murray Janet defines immersion as 'the delightful experience of being transported to a carefully simulated place' (Murray Janet, 1997). I hope that through this immersive experience, people's "dilemma" (isolation) can be changed in terms of awareness and feeling.
Through the use of interactive design based on Augmented Reality (AR) technology, I attempt to combine virtual and physical technologies and design concepts, starting from the real world, culminating in digital imaging, The AR system senses and understands the three-dimensional world by utilizing image and sensor data, thusly creating a new space to assist people with psychosocial disorders or other mental health related issues who have spent extended periods alone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The belief is that this will help them to restore a moremanageable psychosocial state, and it is this aim that drives my academic research.
Health is the basic condition for human survival, development, and enjoyment. Human emotional health has always been an important topic of social concern. Humans seem insignificant when natural disasters bring death, separation, and other permanent damage. In the era of the pandemic, people have begun to pay more attention to their physical and mental health. The real-time interactivity of AR provides a better platform for my works, and while it is in its infancy, with the help of the metaverse, continued attention and demand will further promote the development of this technology after the pandemic. Always By Your Side will be a series project, and in the future, I will continue to complete the design of this series and exhibit it publicly with the aim of bringing some resilience to our traumatized global society.
I have always been concerned about social issues and public welfare topics. My personal power may be insignificant, but perhaps the power of design will awaken people and make the world a better place.
