“Plantasia”: Interactive Experience

In order to raise awareness of nature and its destruction by humankind, students from six study courses at HdM Stuttgart developed an interactive experience: Plantasia. It provided an interpretation of the theme “young energy” and was designed to highlight how people destroy the natural habitat. Plantasia showed a pristine, liberated, magical natural world as a pointed contrast. The message was: “Experience nature, do not destroy it. Nature is created when people do not influence it.”

Plantasia guided visitors through three experience phases. Phase 1 consisted of a consideration of environmental forces. In a game, parched nature was revitalised by the collection of water. Visitors were supposed to take action. Their movements were tracked, water containers were filled and nature brought back to life. The lighthearted game method was conceived to appeal to all age groups.

In phase 2, visitors were supposed to listen to nature. Sounds were emitted when touching interactive, real plants. Sensors identified the touching of leaves through the change in electromagnetic charge, which was converted in turn into sounds or singing. This resulted in a form of communication.

Phase 3 encouraged the contemplation of magical nature. A computer-animated vision of nature and four animations of a virtual nature generated by artificial intelligence showed the future. Visitors heard sounds of nature from the Amazon and local forests. There was deliberately no interaction, only contemplation.