Being in the world with the aural-visualiser 1000

Aural-visualiser 1000 is an interactive system for recording the world around you. Like a camera that captures sounds instead of images, it is meant to develop memories that are focused on what it was like to be in a moment. Aural-visualiser 1000 critiques an image-centered society, particularly how the image has become the dominant form of representing human experience. Collections of photos have become a replacement memory that end up never being looked at. Often, taking a photograph or finding the right angle for a video replaces being present in the world. Focusing on audio requires a user to relate to their world and engage actively in finding things worth noticing. In creating a memento from the sound, av1000 records a memory that can be reviewed later. This requires active participation to reconstruct a meaningful experience. The system argues for interaction design that goes beyond tapping fingers on glass towards exploring the surrounding world intentionally.