created at
TIMELINE
March - May 2022 : 3 months
TEAM
Solo Project
ROLE
Concept, Research, Design, Fabrication, Visualisation, Speculative narratives
GUIDE
Dr Jignesh Khakhar, Tanuja Mishra
DOMAIN
Science, Genetics, Biohacking, Epigenetics, Social behaviour, Psychology, Sentinel systems and Ambient computing
In this critical design project, a shower drain attachment acts as a biological home assistant, using genetic material to perform a range of functions and provide personalised services to its users.
The project raises ethical questions about the collection and use of genetic data, as well as concerns about privacy and security.
WhispR is a thought-provoking and innovative exploration of the potential applications of genetics and AI in the field of home automation.
Approach
Not far from the current reality, the concept was to combine contemporarily evolving technology but layering it with rich data of subliminal basic needs food, environment and social relationships and richer context of your surroundings with the help of ubiquitous computing.
In an age of biohacking, some might call it a necessity to have.
SPECULATIONS ON PERVASIVENESS AND ABILITY
01
In Frame:
Maya, uses Dona as a confidant to find a romantic partner. Dona is looking out for Maya, from testing for personality to STDs, she's got her covered.
02
In Frame:
Mo and Jeena have been trying to bring a new member into the family for a few years now, DoNa has noticed how it has begun impacting their relationship.
03
In Frame:
Laura, a chronic NCD patient, collaborating actively with DoNa, she is inching towards finding the right combination of drug, dosage and unmatched autonomy of her own health.
Working and Technical Grounding
With proliferation in the consumer genetic testing market, DoNa leaped into a space treading into more than just healthcare.
The basis of Dona is an extrapolation from the pervasiveness of on demand genetic testing[1].
Innovation in realtime DNA Analysis[7][8], on ingestion of rejected water begins to process and categorise the characteristics it derives for the 'person of interest'.
The drain attachment uses smaller samples of body fluids mixed with the rejected water while cleansing themselves[9][10].
NAVIGATION ↔ USER JOURNEY
Modelling: Phenotyping in progress, MorAIntelli system refining the database with newly acquired patterns
PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTATION
The emphasis was on creating visualisations, in different multimedia forms, ranging from 3D renders, sketches, write ups, mockups, even audio clips to bring alive the speculations and feel palpable.
The initial thought began with a statement
What if your dead skin cells could tell you where you have been, whom you have met, what you ate the entire day?
With the base thread embedded in monitoring, almost on the lines of surveillance, began exploring prefactuals*
*A prefactual embraces a causal belief that an action (if taken) will result in the outcome with a high degree of certainty. A form of mental simulation, prefactuals often derive from counterfactuals (which focus on the past) and feed into intentions (which center on the future).
These tests are primarily marketed to provide insights into ancestry, traits, and potential health-related information. D2C genetic testing companies utilize various genetic sequencing techniques to analyze the provided DNA samples and generate reports for customers. However, it is important to note that the reliability and accuracy of the results can vary, and some tests have limitations in terms of their clinical utility and interpretation.
In Stranger Visions I collected hairs, chewed up gum, and cigarette butts from the streets, public bathrooms and waiting rooms of New York City. I extracted DNA from them and analyzed it to computationally generate 3d printed life size full color portraits representing what those individuals might look like, based on genomic research. Working with the traces strangers unwittingly left behind, the project was meant to call attention to the developing technology of forensic DNA phenotyping, the potential for a culture of biological surveillance, and the impulse towards genetic determinism. [3]
Choice of artefact: The inconspicuous shower drain. Metaphorically placed in the most 'naked' space of your home.
Neo futuristic forms, a 3D printed attachment that could be clipped onto a shower drain, the device comes in a packaging with a DIY installation manual.
The prototype configured with different lights, indicate different states of the device.
