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TECHNOLOGY

Visualizing Grief:

A Virtual Memorial


Term
Course
Instructor
Partner
Program
Penn State
Memorial Studio 
Jennifer Birkeland
Individual Project
Unreal Engine, Arduino, Neurofeedback, Virtual Reality


The Virtual Memorial project aims to provide a unique and inclusive platform where individuals from diverse backgrounds can collectively commemorate events or individuals, triggering shared memories and emotional attachments. By leveraging the power of online spaces, this memorial will foster a sense of belonging and support as people cope with their losses and seek solace through emotional connections.






BACKGROUND

Project Inspiration


The same puzzlement accompanied his everyday perception. He could not understand why we people with ordinary, frail memory insist on calling a particular moment, in a particular place, in a particular position, by the same name that we call it at another moment, in a different time, place, position.For Funes, every instant that was infinitely unique, and different instants were incomparable, incommensurable.

‘Funes the Memorious’ by Jorge Luis Borges
‘Cognition is categorization’ by Steven Harnard





Project Provacation: Present vs Future memorials



BACKGROUND

Virtual Memorial


In the wake of significant events or the passing of loved ones, individuals often struggle to find outlets for their grief and feelings of loss. Traditional memorials, while important, may not be accessible to everyone, limiting the scope of shared emotional healing. Additionally, the globalized and digital age has ushered in a new era of online mourning, where people seek emotional connections beyond physical barriers. However, existing virtual memorials may lack the structure and abstraction required to facilitate a profound emotional experience.

The Virtual Memorial project aims to create an innovative and accessible digital platform that empowers individuals to commemorate events or individuals, regardless of their background, while encouraging shared experiences and emotional understanding. By offering a carefully curated sequence of emotional abstracted spaces, the Virtual Memorial will enable users to navigate through their grief, process their emotions, and find solace through a collective and supportive environment.









Data Visualization: Grief 




BACKGROUND

Visualizing Grief


The initial phase of this project involved a comprehensive and meticulous exploration of grief through extensive online research. This research aimed to establish a robust categorization of grief, encompassing various aspects of the grieving process. The resulting categorization includes the following key dimensions:

Types of losses, loss types, initial reaction, types of distress, types of grief, symptoms, and lastly the grief stages.




Workflow Diagram: Virtual Reality


BACKGROUND

Virtual Reality Concept


The Virtual Memorial's design unfolds in several stages:

  1. Access through Phone Application: Users enter the virtual environment via a user-friendly phone application, ensuring accessibility for a wide audience.
  2. Emotional Stage Selection: Upon entering, users are guided to an emotional stage based on their input, preferences, or specific event they are memorializing. This stage aims to resonate with their feelings and experiences.
  3. Emotion Tracking with Arduino Sensors: To create an immersive and personalized experience, the user's emotional stage is recorded using Arduino sensors. These sensors detect physiological responses, such as heart rate or skin conductance, helping gauge the user's emotional state.
  4. Navigation to Emotional Rooms: Depending on the user's emotional level, the Virtual Memorial directs them to different emotional rooms. These rooms are carefully crafted to provide solace, reflection, or emotional connection, catering to the user's specific needs.
  5. Recalculation of Emotional Level: Throughout the memorial journey, the user's emotional level is recalculated, comparing it to previous results. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the experience remains relevant and supportive as their emotions evolve.
  6. Additional Sensory Input: In cases where negative emotional responses occur, the Virtual Memorial responds with additional sensory input. This could include soothing visuals, calming music, or guided meditation to help the user find comfort and relief.







Materiality relating the emotion




BACKGROUND

Materiality Selection


In the Virtual Memorial, the physical environment is thoughtfully tailored to reflect and respond to the user's emotional stage, providing a deeply immersive and comforting experience.

To enhance the emotional journey, the Virtual Memorial employs carefully selected materials that correspond to the user's emotional stage. Soft and warm materials are strategically utilized during happy emotional stages, while hard and cold materials are integrated during more somber moments.







BACKGROUND

Emotion Stages


The virtual environment is then designed in different stages
1. The user enters through phone application
2. The user is directed  to a emotional stage based on the input
3. The user’s emotional stage is recorded with arduino’s sensor
    Depending on the emotional level change,
    the user will be directed into different emotiaonal rooms
4. The emotional level is recalculated comparing the previous results
5. If negative results happen, additional sensory input is applied











BACKGROUND

Grief Stages


The project aims to design and develop an AR-based platform that allows users to explore the Alan Burroughs Collection of X-Radiographs. Leveraging AR technology, the platform will enable users to overlay virtual X-radiographic images onto physical artworks, providing a unique visual experience that reveals hidden layers and details, including areas of repainting and artistic techniques.

1. Shock
2. Numbness
3. Denail
4.Anger
5. Fear
6. Lost
7. Frustration
8. Isolation
9. Depression








1. Shock


2. Numbness


3. Denail


4. Anger


5. Fear


6. Lost


7. Frustration


8. Isolation


9. Depression







1. Shock

2. Numbness

3. Denail


4. Anger

5. Fear

6. Lost



7. Frustration

8. Isolation

9. Depression











BACKGROUND

Emotion Room


Emotion rooms are designed based on simple geometric forms and spaces that may inform or trigger certain emotions. As the level increases, the intensity of different rooms become greater and greater. 











BACKGROUND

Positive Memories


The rooms can also portrays certain familiar memories through adding some environmental sensory data. For instance, a memory of contemplation can be closely related to a day sitting at the couch at home with raining outside. 












BACKGROUND

Color Selection


Color plays a significant role in evoking emotions, and by incorporating it into the existing emotion rooms, we can elevate the atmosphere and emotional experience.

By incorporating colors inspired by emotion wheels, color psychology, and the Addictive Color Light Wheel, the Virtual Memorial creates an emotionally captivating and healing experience. The interplay of color within each emotion room enhances the ambiance, offering users a transformative and supportive environment to process their feelings and find comfort in shared emotional connections.










BACKGROUND

Scenerio


The diagram illustrates a compelling scenario of a user's virtual journey through the emotion rooms, providing a vivid depiction of their emotional exploration within the Virtual Memorial.

  1. Seamless Circulation: As the user enters the Virtual Memorial, the experience unfolds seamlessly, guiding them through different emotion rooms that precisely reflect their current emotional state. 
  2. Dynamic Representation: The emotion rooms ingeniously represent the user's emotions through captivating visuals and sensory cues. 
  3. Personalized Pathway: The user's unique emotional journey drives the trajectory within the Virtual Memorial. 
  4. Emotional Resonance: In each emotion room, the user finds a profound resonance with their feelings, fostering a sense of connection and validation. 
  5. Supportive Atmosphere: As the user circulates through the emotion rooms, a supportive atmosphere envelops them, enveloping them in empathy and understanding. 
  6. Transformational Journey: The user's virtual voyage through the emotion rooms becomes a transformational experience. 




























BACKGROUND

Final Prototype


The Virtual Emotion Rooms prototype is a groundbreaking platform designed to offer individuals a deeply immersive and transformative journey through their emotions. With the aim of providing emotional healing and understanding, this innovative virtual experience empowers users to navigate their feelings within a safe and supportive environment.