Deep Sync creates an interactive playground for sound and visuals in the immersive Deep Space 8K environment, inviting visitors to experiment with the correlation between psychological and physiological processes. At the center of attention is each person’s heartbeat represented via artistic sonification and visualization. In this way, the project connects human biological signals with technological and conceptual innovation. Deep Sync is one of the two winning projects of the Ars Electronica Futurelab’s internal ideas competition Ideas Expedition 2023.
“Rhythm is sound in motion. It is related to the pulse, the heartbeat, the way we breathe.
It rises and falls. It takes us into ourselves; it takes us out of ourselves.”
Edward Hirsch
Each person’s heartrate influences the application, resulting in visible and audible changes that have an impact on the collective state of the group. At the same time, the surrounding affects each individual, changing their emotional and physical state. Due to the complex interrelations, the experience is unique and personalized for each visitor constellation.
photo: Markus Schneeberger
photo: Markus Schneeberger
photo: tom mesic
photo: Markus Schneeberger
photo: Susanne Kiesenhofer
photo: Susanne Kiesenhofer
photo: Susanne Kiesenhofer
photo: Susanne Kiesenhofer
photo: Denise Hirtenfelder
As a platform for bio-data exploration, Deep Sync also creates a research environment to advance our society’s capability of better understanding our physiological responses. The audiovisual experience is not only an invitation for self-exploration, possibly also in the context of stress management as well as anxiety or meditation tools. The Deep Sync concept also opens up new possibilities for behavioral research of group dynamics, for instance for team building occasions, as well as for studies of content perception on a biological level. Deep Sync invites every participant to wear their heart(beat) on their sleeve for 30 min to explore the possible change in interrelation with other group members. By taking heart in making the invisible visible, it paves a new way for experiencing collective synchronization on an unconscious level and encountering a new depth of empathy in the process.
The premiere of Deep Sync took place at Deep Space 8K during the Ars Electronica Festival on September 6th, 2023. Additionally, visitors could try out a custom tailored version of this novel interaction application in the Open Futurelab area at POSTCITY.
Credits
Ars Electronica Futurelab: Susanne Kiesenhofer, Anna Oelsch, Daniel Rammer
Deep Sync is a winning project of the 2023 Ars Electronica Futurelab Ideas Expedition.
Related Projects
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Interested in similar projects? The following Ars Electronica Futurelab projects are related to the ideas and concepts presented here. An overview of all our productions, cooperations and projects can be found in our project archive.
