Do you see in the dark when you listen to the echo of your scream? «BATVISION» transfers you into the universe of the bat’s perceptions and enables you to experience the echolocation used by these animals. The VR headset visualises the soundscape of the bat in a way that we can understand. Surrounded by utter darkness, the virtual environment only becomes visible when you scream. «BATVISION» applies immersive technologies, not just to make knowledge comprehensible, but to turn it into something that can be experienced with your own body. The VR experience, therefore, increases our awareness of this critically endangered species.
The project is impressive because it creates a highly fascinating VR experience. Immersion is expertly used to make the audience aware of an important topic in wildlife preservation. This project is an example of how cross-disciplinary collaboration within the ZHdK can help open up new fields. It has reached an advanced development stage and its introduction in an exhibition context is now imminent. Beyond that, it contains the possibility of further development, for instance by extending its functionality or applying the technology to other animal species. Because of this great potential, the plan is to carry on in the form of a research project in collaboration with the Immersive Arts Space.
Websites:
batvision.ch
industrialdesign.zhdk.ch