Project #8 ZOOM CAMERA FILTER

Description

I created this camera filter for virtual meeting platforms, such as Zoom. I remember that in Major Studio, my professor, my classmates, and I once talked about this phenomenon of people not wanting to turn on their cameras in a Zoom meeting. We discussed some potential reasons, and I brought up a point saying that the different power dynamics of looking made people feel vulnerable. Since in the real world, people can easily acknowledge if someone is looking at them. In that case, people can choose to follow that line of sight or avoid it. However, in a Zoom environment, people cannot naturally detect that line of sight. This particular psychology may bring us insecurity because we feel exposed to all the attention that we don't have control of. Therefore, I designed this camera filter to help people cope with that fear of turning on their cameras. The filter is functional in a way that it blocks unwanted lines of sight while letting your teachers and peers see your presence and attention to the course content. Besides, I provided options for people to choose different Emojis to express their feeling or thoughts towards the class. As a result, blocking our faces won’t hinder our class participation.

Sample Images

Design Process

I utilized the facial recognition example that was given under the assignment description. By altering the line tracings of the face into a solid mask, I got this basic model of facial covering. Then, I used createRadio() to map out multiple options for the user to choose whatever Emojis that could represent their moods. Besides, the Emojis they choose can also follow the position of their faces. By having those options to express emotions, this camera filter can not only protect the user from unwanted attention but also be practical to show students' engagment in the class.

Reflection

I really like this assignment since it let me explore privacy issues within technology. Since the feedback loops for attention are so different in the digital world, I think we need to come up with tools that can help us overcome some of those disconnections and discomforts. In my camera filter, I was able to turn a facial recognition camera that was supposed to tell more information than a normal camera into a tool that only gives out the information that we are willing to give out. This project makes me think about a lot more scenarios that we can alter technology to become more selective and humanistic.