The Ear In The Forrest

In the course Social and Aesthetic Interactions (SAInt) our domain was an urban forrest within the city of Aarhus – Riis Skov. Labeled the most frequented forrest in Europe, we were off to design a concept for social interaction.

From numerous visits to Riis Skov, our ethnographic field studies and empirical data collecting gave us a clear picture of what the forrest is to the people who frequent it the most. As a quiet oasis in a fairly large and busy city, people come visit the forrest for relaxation and escape from their every day lives. Strolling, running and dog-walking represents the most of the activity in Riis Skov.

By using experimental methods for design like Extreme Characters, Abstract Machines and Critical Design, we set out to create a concept that, besides being social, also would provoke and play on peoples feelings.

Iteration 1

The concept consists of a ‘talking tree’. The tree speaks to passing visitors through a megaphone, who wants people to share anything on their minds. The tree repeats what a few other people has said to give the visitor something to relate to.

The big ear on the tree is meant to lure and afford people into speaking with the ear.

Iteration 2

We learned a lot from iteration 1, and set out to design a concept that fitted better in to the forrest as it was, by instead utilizing the familiar information signs already found throughout Riis Skov. On these signs we created a narrative, where some of the trees were extraordinary, in that they could pick up sounds and distribute them to other trees.

We split the interaction into two parts, where one tree could pick up sound through the big ear, and another tree were the output channel.

Iteration 3

The third iteration is called ‘Radio Riis Skov’, and consists of one (or more) input channels on the popular routes. This iteration picks up on the aspects of the previous iteration, and is a attempt to design a more viable product.

The design of the input channel inspired by the design of door telephones and intercoms, and consists of a microphone and a LED screen with the ‘Topic of the day’ (eg. “Your Job” or “The weather”). These topics is meant as a way to start a discussion.

These discussions, along the sound of nature, is then broadcasted online for people to tune in, and suggest topics for discussion.