[Doing a bit of a post purge today, after being sick for the past wee while, apologies!]
I know what brief I'm doing, now I need to start research. I need inspiration. I NEED a fix to start the hype. Or something.
This brief follows an idea behind Bio-Design/Bio-Art, in the notes it refers to the book BioDesign: Nature + Science +Creativity by W, Myers. I couldn't afford to get the book myself, but I got a little sneak through a copy of the student beside me. Sadly no insight, but I got just the inspiration I needed.
The Blood Lamp
or Dracula Bulb, is an interesting idea. It's particularly grotesque and Taboo, which is maybe why I like it so much... The idea belongs to Mike Thompson (An English designer based in the Netherlands.) The chemical inside the lamp is LUMINOL and it reacts to blood. It's used by forensic scientists at a crime scene to find any blood traces. When in contact a reaction starts that makes the liquid glow blue in colour.
It's supposed to be making people think about their high energy consumption. Would it change if people had to give their blood in order to get energy? Bit of a controversy if you ask me.
The Blood System
Let's look at this on a larger scale for a moment. What if you took the idea behind the blood lamp and you could create a full housing system out of it. You provide some of your blood and your get energy in return. Granted this idea could have some SERIOUS effects on society, it's maybe a little too over the top.
Some dangers could come from this. How much do you need to give to receive? Does the amount calculate the amount of energy received or is it one off for the day just to convey a message? I feel like too many problems could arise. It could potentially promote self harm in younger people. It has a strong message, but no real benefits over all. We gotta give ourselves to receive what we want..
Finger Prick - Blood Analysis
Taking the same idea of a housing system, my lecturer suggested something related to diabetes. A way of them to use the blood sugar analyzer as a finger prick in their home, and the results effect their lights. High blood sugar, brighter lights. Low blood sugar, dimmer lights. A better way for them to keep track of their illness in the home.
This is beneficial for diabetics as it could allow a more advanced way of helping them manage it. A smaller system connected to a phone app or alike. However, my thoughts were that most diabetics feel like their condition is a burden to them. As I could imagine, then they wouldn't want to place that 'burden' on other people around them.
Variety of the Blood Analysis
We'll peek at some more varieties of this system then. I considered the system picking up the likes of Alcohol, nicotine or more medical focused by tracking a patient with a certain organ disease from the comfort of their own home.
Child friendly lighting could make the idea of an organ disease/condition to a younger user a little more friendly compared to a big scary serious thing. I considered the idea of results being sent to a parents Mobile App so that they can have a continuous check up of progress, symptoms, and if anything serious is happening that they won't notice just from the outside.
My concerns would be that people may then micromanage their condition, possibly to poor effect. They might not feel the need for a doctor. At the same time it could take a lot of pressure off of doctors and hospitals. OR people could pile pressure on and ask a lot of questions due to not understanding a maybe complex system (what is this symptom, what do we do here, what does this mean) It's the same back and forth scenarios for this one. I need a new approach.
Our Wasteful Art
The idea of using the body in some sort of system, to make some sort of reaction. I looked into bio-luminescence. Think James Cameron's Avatar.
One of my lecturers sparked the idea of using our own body waste as a way to make art. My head visualized a big glass canvas full of different Algae. When the algae is presented with the likes of Urine, Blood, Sweat, Tears, maybe even Poop?! It will start a chemical reaction that causes it to glow and react. A new, unique art experience. Creating personalized art on a WHOLE new level over here.
I want to throw poop at things. I really do. But the issue arises in our society this sort of behaviour may seem a little.. Disgusting. A bit too 'out there' unfortunately. It was a different take though!
The Bacterial Cloud
Along came Justin. Justin was telling me one day about a new thing they're figuring out called The 'Microbe Cloud' or 'Bacterial Cloud'. In concept, this is basically like a personal space around us made up of all our bacteria. It's personalised like a finger print and they're saying CURRENTLY we can track a persons movements based on this cloud. So what else can it do?
This set off a little chain in my head. What if it was integrated into the house system? A way for people to check their health, be told when they're getting sick, need a shower, mood, stress levels. A personal way for them to keep check of themselves in a passive yet effective manner.
And then I found it, the right path. The Idea. I introduce the work in progress title:
The Cloubee
The Cloubee is going to be an ecological system developed into the normal family home. It's aim is to use ones bacterial cloud to create a unique living experience around them. Tracking their well-being, changing the lights in a room and alike to match their unique cloud. No single user will have the same experience.
The audience for this is very widespread. In future is could become a new basis for homes. A new way for people to appreciate both the artistic value and the environmental one. Nowdays we have people using the luminescent DNA to create new lighting to try and replace street lights and road signs. I feel like it could be simplified for the likes of our OLDER generation. Allowing them to still have control over their lives and appreciate the beauty of this experience.
As of right now, to achieve proper results it takes about 4 hours MAX. How can we optimize and maintain this system over the long term? Would people see it as a benefit or a burden? Too technical? Too weird? I need to find the right balance between futuristic and abstract with the visuals.
Onward, still need to refine this and find a final outcome..
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