[ISEA2019] Paper: Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, Eman Al-Zubeidi, Courtney Michalsky, Stephanie Sykora & Lauren Toler — One Step: The Impact of Interactive Public Installations on Promoting Public Awareness of Poverty

Abstract

Keywords: Interactive art, public art, public awareness, poverty, community

Those living in poverty are often misjudged as being the reason they are in their situation. Because of this misconception, most people do not know how extensive and how many people are affected by poverty. The problem is commonly ignored mainly on the college campuses. We developed bodily interactive displays entitled One Step to address this issue and promote public awareness. One Step aims to create an emotional response and understanding in its viewers and nurture a relationship between individuals affected by poverty and students. To investigate effectiveness of the interactive displays, we compared a non-interactive version (print posters) serving as a baseline, with an interactive version where participants’ body movements are translated into the system playing the interactive contents. The study presents that interactive displays are more engaging than non-interactive displays and more effective to support promoting public awareness around poverty issues.

  • Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo is an interactive artist/researcher focusing on aesthetics of interactive experience. Currently she is an associate professor in the Department of Visualization at the College of Architecture and a faculty fellow in the Institute for Applied Creativity and the Center for Health Systems & Design at Texas A&M University, USA. Seo has been fascinated by the aesthetic qualities of human experience, the relationships that emerge through interactions within artworks, the underlying beauty and pattern inherent in the nature. Her current research concentrates on designing for tangible and kinetic aesthetics in the contexts of education and health.
  • Eman Al-Zubeidi is an interaction designer with a background in multimedia design. She explores the concept of breaking down barriers relating to social issues and human rights. Her main goal is to integrate digital media and influential topics to make lasting impressions and deeply connect with an audience.
  • Courtney Michalsky, Stephanie Sykora & Lauren Toler

Full text (PDF) p. 206-213