Ambient Interfaces






A set of two headpieces designed to emulate and externalize a lifelong micro-interaction between my mom (a hearing impaired lip-reader) and me.


year

2023



role

designer


materials

aluminum, arduino, servo motor, paper



Context + Research QuestionMy Mom is hearing impaired and relies on hearing aids and lip reading. There is a subtle dance of positioning oneself so your voices are directionally optimal and your mouths visible.


How might this unspoken and sometimes ignored movement be externalized? 

How could an object allow playful interchange of roles, and allow you to explore being both speaker and the listener?




1_Mapping + Process









2_Outcome
Eye contact triggers the armature on one of the headpieces to swing open, revealing the person’s mouth.


By changing headpieces, the wearers can experiment with experiencing their own mouth covered vs viewing the mouth covering.