Case Studies
Convergence Journal
What constructs one’s cultural identity? Does it depend on where someone was born, or where they’ve grown up? Their genetic makeup? While there are many people who can easily pinpoint what their cultural identity is, others (i.e. second-generation immigrants, adoptees, those of mixed-race, etc.) find this more difficult to navigate. This confusion could result in other inner conflicts, such as feeling disconnected from their heritage and not knowing how to connect with it better, or feeling like no one relates to their situation at all. What can help address these feelings of conflict and cultural ambiguity, and help people feel less alone?
Convergence Journal features excerpts from those of various ethnic origins, but who feel as if they are culturally separate (like second-generation immigrants). Each issue focuses on a specific country; the first being Korea.
Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a state where you’re conscious but unable to physically move as you are falling asleep or waking up. During an episode, people often experience auditory or visual hallucinations (i.e. seeing a shadowy figure). They may also feel pressure on their chest and have trouble breathing properly. As a result, this is often a frightening experience for those who enter this state. This motion type video is a visual portrayal of the sleep paralysis experience.
When one experiences a sleep paralysis episode, they are completely conscious throughout everything, but can’t physically move or speak. This is represented at the beginning of the video, when the person undergoing the episode slowly opens their eyes and gains awareness of their surroundings and thoughts. The person starts to wonder where they are, what they were doing, and slowly come to the realization that they can’t move and enter a state of panic. From here, the hallucinations start to kick in. The visual hallucination is the shadowy figure that slowly approaches the person, and the whispers represent auditory hallucinations. As the person experiences this, they eventually attempt to call for help, only to realize that they can’t.
PlayAR
Ever wondered what it'd be like seeing your favourite video game characters brought to life in a real-world location? How about roaming an open field and discovering a treasure chest containing a new item? People who play video games may find themselves imagining these game elements in the real world, but have no means of bringing them into fruition. This led to the design challenge: what can help facilitate these imaginations in the real world, in a fun and interactive way? PlayAR is a community-driven app which allows users to bring their video game imaginations to life by creating their own augmented reality (AR), and situating it in real-world locations for others to discover and interact with.
Explore the world around you to discover custom AR inspired by existing video games. While the AR can technically be used in any location, each one is created based on real-world locations with specific perspectives. This allows for a more immersive experience that can only be achieved by seeking the exact location of the AR, giving users an incentive to explore the world.
