Graduates
Bryana Lee
BS in Interaction Design — Interaction DesignCourse:
Body Tracking
Faculty:
Jennifer L. Rodenhouse, Elise Co
Term:
2023 Spring
Collaborators:
Joy Lee
Cause & Affect : Exploring Emotion, Movement, and Sound
Affection explores the subtle ways our environment influences both emotion and movement. We wanted to explore how sound—an often overlooked yet powerful external factor—can shape the way people physically and mentally respond to their surroundings.
Our experiment was guided by the hypothesis that changes in sound levels would influence both the physical movements and mental states of participants, leading to observable differences in their walking styles before and after exposure to unexpected sound. Through a series of motion-capture experiments, we observed how changes in sound levels influence walking patterns, posture, and mood, revealing the invisible connection between auditory stimuli, emotion, and the body.
Learning Outcomes:
The experiment demonstrated that different sound levels (decibels) significantly impact how people react and move. The sound influenced not only participants’ immediate responses but also their movement afterward, leading them to walk more cautiously.
Our team was fascinated by exploring the concept of affection, especially how it can refer to both positive and negative responses. Typically, people think of affection as a positive emotion, but in our study demonstrated that some experiences can trigger discomfort or even traumatic reactions, ultimately influencing future behavior. This experiment shows that affection—our physical and emotional responses to unexpected sound—can take many forms and shape our behavior and perception of our surroundings, whether through calm or distress.
Project Website: