research
Artificially induced state of increased alernetness (raised neckhair)
Fear Tuners —
Prostheses for instincts
Extrasensory prosthetic device
Fear Tuners argues that people are in need of tools to help them sense global and abstract dangers. As a response to the problem, this project explores the potential use of wearable devices as prostheses for those missing instincts.
Technologies have greatly reduced some of the biggest risks of humankind, yet our modern life seems
to spawn a whole new array of abstract threats and fears.
How can we sense a stock market crash or the rise of the oil price?
Fear Tuners are a set of prostheses for instincts that we have not yet developed. Fear Tuners translate stressful data into tactile sensations that "simulate the autonomous nervous system" resulting into a
mental state of increased awareness, whenever a deferred
danger occurs.
Download the paper.
Tactile stimlation resulting into chill and goosebumps (Visualisation)The project is part of my MA thesis at the Royal College of Art's Design Interactions course. Fear Tuners has been presented at the Devices That Alter Perception Workshop in conjunction with Ubicomp 2008. It will be further developed during a research stay at Tokyo University's Ishikawa-Komuro Lab in 2009.
Form prototype for self induced stimulation along the spine