Building Up Worlds
Filtering the Microworld: Visualising Sea Sponges through Microscopy and Machine Learning View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shu Min Lim
Technology shapes the way we perceive nature. From microscopic cameras that reveal organisms invisible to unaided human eyes, to computer algorithms used for species identification, scholars in media and visual studies have highlighted how our perception is mediated by the tools we use. This paper examines some of these concepts in my recent project on sea sponges, observed using scanning electron microscopy and transformed into moving images using generative AI. I discuss this work in relation to ideas about machine, computer and scientific vision as visual culture, exploring its creative potential, its aesthetic qualities, and its ideological implications, reflecting on how this may influence our perception and representation of the natural world. While applications of technology often focus on precision, clarity, and efficiency, this paper advocates for a more open-ended, artistic approach and considers its significance for design practice.
Designing Phygital Twin Artifacts in Healthcare
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Angela Giambattista, Teodora Ivkov, Loredana Di Lucchio
Phygital Twins, integrating physical and digital elements into cohesive systems, have significant transformative potential across many application areas, including healthcare. Positioned at the intersection of healthcare design and medical education, this study focuses on designing and implementing phygital twin artifacts as advanced training tools for surgical and anatomical education, specifically in spinal procedures. The objective is to develop an integrated device that replicates a portion of the spinal column, offering medical students and young neurosurgeons a realistic platform for learning surgical anatomy and practicing techniques. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including design prototyping, stakeholder consultations, and iterative testing. The development process involved creating a modular architecture for interchangeable components and integrating physical and digital systems to enhance the realism and adaptability of the training experience. Preliminary evaluations of the physical device were conducted through user feedback and performance assessments in simulated surgical scenarios. Initial findings indicate the device’s effectiveness in supporting anatomical learning and skill acquisition. However, challenges remain in refining the fidelity of certain biological feedback mechanisms. Future developments will prioritize establishing usability protocols for both the physical and digital twins. These protocols will assess the physical twin's realism and user-friendliness, with particular attention to its assembly and disassembly. Similarly, they will evaluate the digital twin’s seamless integration with its physical counterpart. Usability testing will play a pivotal role in understanding user interactions, providing valuable insights to refine the design and ensure the device’s effectiveness in real-world training environments.
Featured Re-defining Belonging: Sensory-friendly Furniture Design For Neurodiverse Inclusion Aid View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Arundhathi Madanan
This research focuses on understanding and addressing sensory overload, a condition that affects up to 20% of the world’s population and is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other sensory deficit disorders. Temple Grandin, an autism advocate, describes autism as “Seeing the world through a kaleidoscope and trying to listen to a radio station that is jammed with static at the same time. Add to that a broken volume control, which causes the volume to jump erratically from a loud boom to inaudible.” This metaphor captures the daily experience of sensory overload, which can hinder one’s independence and quality of life. In design, form and structure aren’t just about aesthetics and functionality—they reflect the relationship between the user and the product. The research aims to experience, empathize, and engage with the world of sensory overload as a furniture designer, designing a product that helps individuals navigate it safely and healthily. Adopting the SPELL (Structure, Positive, Empathy, Low Arousal, Links) framework with a design thinking approach, the research develops an experience that helps neurotypical audiences empathize with the neurodivergent community. It includes insights into autism in Singapore, the current state of inclusive spaces, sensory preferences, and conceptual prototypes through working closely with the autism community. It is about helping individuals gain control in a society that mislabels sensory disorders as defects and seeks to raise global awareness and promote inclusive design as the standard in all disciplines of design.
