3D MODELING · PROGRAMMING

HER

WEB ART

HER is an interactive website that allows visitors to peep in my room from a virtual window. This work is about privacy, surveillance, space, and borders. I created an immersive experience by combining 3D modeling and programming for the audience to think about what is the boundary between private space and public space.

her-fullscreen

OVERVIEW

THE DESIGN
HER is an interactive website that allows visitors to peep in my room from a virtual window. This work is about privacy, surveillance, space, and borders. I created an immersive experience by combining 3D modeling and programming for the audience to think about what is the boundary between private space and public space.

 

📅 TIME
Nov 2018

🛠 TOOLS
MgicaVoxel
HTML/CSS
JavaScript

✅ MY JOBS
Research
Ideation
3D Modeling
Programming

Q:

What is the boundary between private space and public space?

1. THE DESIGN

IMG_8892
THE WINDOW

Floor-to-ceiling windows give apartment residents an excellent view to the outside, but also provide people outside a great view of the inside. 

room0
THE BOUNDARY

The window is a boundary between private space and public space.

room3
MY ROOM

The viewers enter my virtual room by scanning a QR code on my window from outside. They can identify me and my life as they like. People might get different conclusions through various clues they found in the room.

DESIGN PROCESS

HER-process

1ST VERSION

I created a 3D-model room to represent my bedroom. People outside can visit the place by “getting in” from the window.

2ND VERSION

Based on the feedback from the class, I added more personal items to make the room more “mine”.

3RD VERSION

I made an interactive prototype with Principle. Visitors can interact with the objects in the room such as tearing down a page of the calendar, pressing the perfume, taking a pudding or candy away, and reading the diary.

Q:

Why do people fear the invasion of privacy?

REVISED CONCEPT

My concept was that people outside could enter my room and interact with the objects in my room. Thus, my room changes to public space from private space. This concept is to amplify the phenomenon that the floor-to-ceiling window widely used in apartments brings the issue of privacy exposure.

I had spent time thinking about why people fear a loss of privacy until I read a viewpoint:

"Meanwhile, the danger to us as individuals shift from privacy to probability:
algorithms will predict the likelihood… "

–Viktor Mayer-Schönberger in Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think

People may not care about exposing their privacy to the public but fear the public piece together the fragmented information and figure out who they are. That is the point of view my project will express.

Besides, after testing with several people, I found that the last version was quite like a game. It seems that I encourage strangers to enter my room and use my stuff. However, I didn’t mean that. So, I was considering how to distinguish it from a game. Then, I got inspiration from the work My Boyfriend Came Back from the War. The artist told a story by the website. I also would like to tell a story about me through my work.

So, I revised the concept that people outside can only see the objects in the room but can’t change the status of them. It becomes impossible to take away anything or tear down a piece of paper. Based on the information they get, they can figure out the identities of the person who lived in the room and even predict her coming activities.

Thank you for your time! 😆