Buzz Swatters, Open Futurelab 2024; photo: Bettina Gangl

Buzz Swatters

Collective Transformation Lab

Buzzing noises, an inconspicuous window, tropical humidity and the impression of being chased: Buzz Swatters: Playful Pandemic Prevention was designed to address the collective action problem of infectious diseases in an innovative and playful way. It is the second collaborative project of the Collective Transformation Lab between AI start-up Godot and the Ars Electronica Futurelab. 

Buzz Swatters was presented to the public in the exhibition area Open Futurelab in POSTCITY at the Ars Electronica Festival 2024. Those who entered the Open Futurelab were quickly greeted by a peculiar festival guest: a sensor-driven animated mosquito. It was the first indicator of an immersive gameplay that draws visitors into a fictional pandemic breaking out in POSTCITY. To avoid spreading the mysterious mosquito disease, players were encouraged to embrace behaviour changes that benefit the community’s health. 

By navigating interactive challenges, participants experienced firsthand the significance of collective efforts in disease prevention – emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual actions and their broader impact on community well-being. With a flyswatter serving as a voting tool, players were involved in a democratic process to make solidary decisions to be implemented in the game.  

Buzz Swatters: Playful Pandemic Prevention motivates citizens to adopt proactive measures for the common good, even in situations where immediate personal benefits may not be apparent. The goal of the installation is to investigate when people feel inspired to change their behaviour toward certain common good, utilizing cutting-edge technology such as generative AI and sensor technology. 

This project was part of the Open Futurelab at the Ars Electronica Festival 2024.

Credits

Ars Electronica Futurelab: Kerstin Blätterbinder, Roland Haring, Denise Hirtenfelder, Susanne Kiesenhofer, Otto Naderer, Hideaki Ogawa
PARTNER: Godot Inc.: Ken Moriyama, Ryo Onizawa, Yusuke Takagi, Masashi Ohtani 
Godot GmbH: Go Suzui, Johannes Heizer