Time Capsule II
I reused the landscape model as a time capsule where you can open the terrain mound to see objects inside, such as a camera and pictures. The contour landscape itself is also an object that tells the story of the place. I used Augmented Reality to extend the story of a young dad walking around his hometown, with the forest, boats, and nature, to convey the sense of the place.“The wooden model represents the contour levels of the river terrain and the dynamic landscape of my dad's hometown. It reminds me of the harmony between culture, nature, and local economics in that region. Below are the photos I took of my dad's hometown, which further capture the essence of this connection.” All three items, the camera, wooden model, and Pha Khao Ma are tied to the same place: my dad’s hometown in north eastern of Thailand, where people live in harmony with the seasonal floods forest and nature.
Fabrication
The fabrication process started with hand-drawn contour lines inspired by the landscapes of Northeastern Thailand. I refined these sketches in AutoCAD to make them clearer and more precise. Next, I imported the lines into SketchUp to create a 3D model of the landscape. SketchUp was really helpful for working out the dimensions and getting a good overview of the topography, making sure the final result was both accurate and visually appealing.
Augmented Reality
I used Aero software to create the augmented reality experience, starting with the 3D model I built in SketchUp. After importing the model, I decorated it with additional elements like trees, a boat, and a human character to represent my young dad. The process involved carefully positioning these models to create a cohesive scene that reflected the environment I wanted to portray.
Next, I integrated audio and interactive elements to enhance the experience. For example, tapping the tree makes it grow, tapping my dad makes him stand up, and tapping the boat makes it spin. Each interaction was designed to bring the scene to life and immerse the user in the narrative. The combination of visuals, sound, and touch-responsive actions helped to create an engaging and dynamic AR environment.
