Spectate
A wearable to enhance the emotional connection in remote events
How can remote viewers of a live event experience the same emotionally-charged atmosphere as those nearby?
Spectate is a product that enhances the experience of remote viewing of live events through providing emotionally affective tactile interactions.
Using biofeedback to enhance experiences
The emotional atmosphere of a live sports or performance event is said to be tangible. But what if some viewers are disconnected from the emotional atmosphere, either by location or due to an impairment?
Combining user-research into sensorially impaired experiences of theatre and the science of biofeedback (the communication of an affecting emotion directly through our physiological responses), Spectate is a James Dyson Foundation award-winning product that augments the sensory communication of a live sport or performance event to enhance the emotional experience for spectators in remote viewing environments.
The Spectate emotional sensing and response system
The broadcasted live event is connected to a hand held device—the eMote—which uses tactile sensations and the wearer's own physiological reactions to reconnect the viewer more directly to the physicality of the action in an event, a football match in this application.
Connecting the physical emotions of the action on the pitch to the remote viewers
The hand held eMote to provide a tactile
communication of the emotions of the event
The eMote can be worn on the hand or clipped onto clothing and provide emotional feedback of the wearer in a dynamically changing visual
Iterations through various form models and electro-mechanical prototypes, the final design creates a tactile heartbeat sensation to represent the intensity and pace of the movements in the match, and hence affect the wearer’s emotions. Sensors in the device also read the wearer’s emotional state and broadcast an interactive graphic back to the crowd, reconnecting remote viewers to the live event.
Exploration into forms for the eMote
Early prototypes for the tactile communication
and feedback technology
Prototype of the working model
Publications & presentations
Spectate | 2009
Philippa Mothersill. Masters dissertation, Royal College of Art & Imperial College, London
Royal Collage of Art Show | 2009
Royal College of Art, London (UK)