Silent Conversations invites two participants into a specially designed space. They are separated but can sense each others presence through subtle environmental cues. By adjusting light brightness and temperature, participants can send "signals" to the person across.
Interactive InstallationInstallation ArtHaptic Design
Silent Conversations
2022
An interactive installation exploring the possibilities of non-verbal communication. Two participants engage in "dialogue" through light and touch, with no language—only silent signal transmission.
The installation consists of two identical pods connected through a network of sensors and actuators. When one participant adjusts their light or touches a surface, the corresponding element changes for the other. This creates a private channel of expression without words.
The project was inspired by reflection on modern communication methods—we increasingly rely on language and text while ignoring more primitive, more direct forms of communication. Here, silence is no longer an obstacle but becomes a medium of communication.
Sometimes the most profound connections happen without a single word.
— Zhang Shumeng
Technical implementation includes custom hardware for light and haptic feedback, Arduino-based control systems, and Max/MSP for the communication protocol. The installation has been shown at design exhibitions and art festivals.