In the vibrant and multisensory atmosphere of the Sencity Festival held at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, Michel Witter captivated attendees with his insightful mini-lecture at the Science Lab. At the Science Lab of Sencity Festival, Michel discussed his innovative research aimed at enhancing shared experiences for the deaf and the hearing.
During the festival, Michel presented “What if you had an extra sense?“, an inspiring exploration of his ongoing doctoral research. The focal point of his study revolves around developing technologies, such as a vibrating belt, which are designed to augment human senses and facilitate a new form of sensory interaction. These devices are not only innovative but are crafted with inclusivity at the heart, aiming to diminish the sensory gap that often exists between deaf and hearing individuals. Michel’s work leverages tactile or other sensory feedback technology to create interfaces that can convey directional guidance, proximity, and other environmental cues through patterns of vibrations. It can also, for example, inspire artists to incorporate these technologies into artworks or museum environments. This technology holds the promise of adding a new dimension to the sensory repertoire of its users, potentially enabling those with hearing impairments to ‘feel’ their surroundings in a profound way.
The insights gained from Sencity Festival are invaluable in refining and advancing the application of sensory augmentation technologies. Caradt remains committed to supporting such innovative research that not only advances knowledge in art, design, and technology but also contributes significantly to societal well-being by enhancing the quality of life for individuals with sensory disabilities.
