Kairos: The Artifact aims to convert vast quantities of scientific data into a vivid, multisensory experience that highlights global warming hotspots, allowing individuals to grasp the speed and magnitude of climate change personally.
Utilizing real-time VR technology to convey topics such as climate change strengthens the belief that immersive experiences are highly beneficial educational tools for any demographic. They have greater reach and enable deeper understanding.
Research and Surveys, Photograph (2021)
During Covid-19 we accessed this landscape in Central New York, United States. Documenting every aspect of the environment - Surveying the geography, botany, and zoology. Visualizing the next 1,000 years and the past 1,000 years.
The Ravine
The Ravine value studies were developed in the first year to focus lighting and composition. The VR headset was kept in mind as scenes were composed for the user to experience during gameplay.
I developed a 3d model to address the original difficulty in portraying scale and depth. Using VR’s Gravity Sketch solved many issues and guided the technical artists when composing our VR scenes to emphasize scale.
The Ravine 3d Model, Rendered in Twinmotion (2022)
The Artifact
Process and Development
The Artifact’s main purpose provided user orientation within the Ravine’s landscape and contained the interface tools which controlled climate variables.
Originally, the Artifact was represented as a bunker building with an interlocking mechanism to enter and leave. The idea matured into an organic dome shape, to express the interconnectivity between the environment through a vast root network.
Twinmotion Lighting & FX Render
Gravity Sketch Model, Blender Render
The Tablet
Tablet and Tree, multiple views, 3d Model, Quick Visualization for team members
Blender, Twinmotion
Tablet and tree models staged inside the artifact asset. Quickly develops and conveys my ideas to team members. User’s experience would simulate environmental outcomes based on their own choices and decisions.
Developing User Controls
The Tablet was developed as the center hub for user experience to interact with the Ravine’s climate. This would simulate weather affects, conditions and human impact as a real time render. Emphasizing the impact of our decisions on ecology and the potential outcomes of our actions.
Original Sketch Phase and User Interface Ideas
The Exhibition
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Smithsonian's ACCelerate Festival
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The Exhibition ~~ Smithsonian's ACCelerate Festival ~~
Showcasing Kairos at the Smithsonian was an incredibly rewarding experience. I felt very fortunate to see concepts I designed displayed in the final presentation. The summit of 2 years work was rewarded through users experiencing the immersive world my team helped shape.
The Exhibition
The Syracuse University team worked with museum curators to best exhibit the project. “The initial conversation was about how to make a VR experience visitor friendly, including elements of interpretation for people who aren’t actively using the VR.”