Khushiyon ka Ghar: Virtual Domestic Spaces to Connect Immediate Families in India


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Creator/Artist: Dani K Raju

Category: Interaction Design

Document: P2-P3 Project

Batch: 2014-2016

Source: India,   IDC IIT Bombay

Period:  2009-2018

Medium: Report pdf

Supervisor: Prof. Ravi Poovaiah & Prof. Jayesh Pillai


Detailed Description

Population ageing is one of the most significant trends of the 21st century. India has around 10 crore elderly at present, and the number is expected to increase to 32.3 crore, or 20 percent of the total population, by 2050. New technologies are radically changing the way we live our lives. As computer technologies alter the communication landscape, they in turn are changing the way we conduct and experience family life. Through this project, we are trying to explore and find new ways for senior citizens to connect with their grandchildren. Khushiyon ka Ghar is an idea that relatedness between a geographically separated grandparent and grandchild can be enhanced through a shared or co-created experience. Environment plays a crucial role in immersive experiences, and the initial direction was to create virtual spaces modelled on real-life spaces where grandparents and grandkids can explore, play, share, and store content. After the initial trials, we found that this approach hindered the free play of imagination and creativity, as users were limited to the possibility of interacting only with the objects inside a shared virtual living room. We realised that experiences will be more meaningful and relevant if they can be created by the users themselves. After having discussions with focus groups of senior citizens and families, various trials were conducted with real users. Trials explored the user's dispositions toward making clay objects, creating a fantasy world inside a virtual living room, etc. Based on the insights we gathered, we designed a setup that enables the users to create virtual reality experiences.