Gut Feeling

Gut Feeling is an interactive sculpture inspired by increasing concerns about data privacy in light of advancing surveillance technologies in social spaces.

Imagine a world where internal, involuntary, emotional reactions are on display for other people to observe at the same time we experience them ourselves. There will be no room for disguise or denial as everyone will have access to the reaction as it happens. On what grounds, if any, can we have agency over who we share such reactions with? Can we still reasonably claim ownership over such reactions we have no control over? Where do such reactions fit in our usual conceptions of privacy? These are some questions we must consider when designing social spaces for the future.

(Materials: vinyl, acrylic, PVC, wood, glass, Arduino Uno, GSR sensor, )

The sculpture features a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor and a motor. GSR is believed to measure arousal; a base reading is taken as the control and reading fluctuations are regarded as reflective of changes in arousal. The GSR sensory input is mapped with the speed of the motor, which is connected to a fluid lantern form. To activate the experience, the user places two fingers on the GSR sensor bed and the lantern spins accordingly; a live, spinning display of involuntary reactions for everyone in the room to observe. This is a metaphorical prototype that simulates a potential application of future surveillance technology.