Maroa-Isabell Al-Sahlani

Inspired by the lack of innovation in how Arabic speakers interact online using the inefficient keyboards not designed for the Arabic script. This research led me to this question: How can we preserve the complexities of human innovation in this technological age, and how can we use technology to serve our needs without compromising the socio-cultural context?

Invisaboard is the proposed non-touch high-speed short form text-entry solution for Arabic script and less able Arabic users in collaboration with Yamakawa lab. Researched and designed using the lab’s specialisms such as high-precision, high-speed cameras and 3D tracking system to test and develop a handwriting and gesture navigation interaction that extends to distant human-computer interaction. A retroreflective nail marker was also developed to aid in accuracy of the collected data when recording the handwriting and gesture interaction for further insights during experimentation when designing the interface. 

What if we don’t want to simplify the script to the extent of removing all character, tradition, calligraphic development, human craft and history?

Invisaboard exists within these constraints and aims to be the balanced design solution.

Humans can ascribe meaning to physical objects, becoming symbols to remind and meditate on events that have made an impact in our lives and the philosophy we wish to live by, whether it's a book, a statue, a talisman, a rock etc. In the evening of Iraq’s 2019 protests, lamps were lit and prayers were said in memory of the lives lost so far during the protest. In the consumerist culture, we have stopped giving objects inner meaning, making things “too replaceable.” Can we extend the life of an object in a sustainable fashion by embedding meaning to the user?

Maroa used touch-designer to convert the audio from the soundscape she personally captured at Iraq’s 2019 protests and made them into flat vector visuals. She collaborated with Savio to export the subsequent vectors to be used as sketches to build a CAD model to then 3D print. To remember and reflect on the historical and political events such as soundscapes of military firing at the protestors, cross sections of the lampshade changes to represent the audio from 0 sec to 10 seconds. On the decade of beads, each bead’s form unique to 1 second of a 10 second soundscape recording, they were SLA 3d printed due to the size of the bead and for high finish.

In collaboration with Savio Mukhachirayil.

During our time in Singapore, we noticed a group of people in PPE for construction, they looked like us, being transported out from the construction site in the back of a semi-open truck sitting in all directions. This was where our reflection started, can’t everyone else see this? And what else exists in our blind spot?

There is a tendency to not notice these workers, and governments may want to hide them in carefully designed and constructed blind spots to preserve the image to us and the outside world. Our perception of the migrant workers and the jobs is skewed as a result. This can lead to an unsympathetic outlook to their concerns and they become vulnerable to being taken advantage of through extortion and oppression. 

This piece of work is a call to reflect upon our own blindspots, who and what are we being wilfully blind to, where and when? It is a call to be improvers of society, to be our neighbour’s keeper, to uphold and see the human dignity of others in society. Use our bodies to act, to hear, to speak and to see those who are barely seen.

The yellow represents the safety helmets of the workers, the sounds used, and lines such as, “Do Not Disturb”, “Work in Progress” can also be noticed at a construction site.

In collaboration with Savio Mukhachirayil.

A parent should teach children how to navigate their perception of reality; like the physical world, the internet is a chaotic place and children spend a lot of time online. The less conscious the parents are of their children’s online interactions, the less connected they become, endangering the parent-child bond.

Many of today’s solutions include restriction based discipline enforced by the technology itself, however, content locking alone stunts the children's exercise in freedom which limits their development to mature adults that understand moderation online. 

This education needs to be modelled by their parents, not an algorithm, but moments of conversations are low now as parents are busy checking their own phones, robbing kids out of crucial parenting opportunities.

Silsila is a solution that monitors children's use of online technologies by collecting, visualising and analysing their behaviours, flagging concerning activity and provides suggestions based on psychological studies to encourage parents to have informed discussions with their children, creating situations to connect and educate.