A self-distributing wearable designed to spread information about the potential dangers of A.I facial recognition.

OVERVIEW

How To Make The Mask

Step 1 - Hold your phone camera up to the QR code on the mask.

Step 2 - An AR sign appears, informing you that the wearer is covering their face as an act of digital armoury. You are shown live nearby CCTV footage.

Step 3 - You are then redirected to a website that explains the collection and sale of biometric data, and how this could affect you. You are also shown how the Chinese government currently uses biometric data to preemptively arrest certain minority religions and place them into 'reeducation camps'. You can then download the template to make your own mask.

Step 4 - Print the mask.

Step 5 - Cut to shape.

Step 6 - Wear and inform others.

CONTEXT

Reflecting On The Project

When we started this project, news of the Coronavirus had just broken and was seemingly contained to Wuhan. Although our focus was on facial recognition, not contagion, this project feels prescient now that our college has shut down due to a pandemic. Culturally, I never thought it would be commonplace in Ireland to wear anything resembling a surgical mask, but as of March 2020 it has become normalized.

CONCEPT

Rapid Ideation

We began this project by considering the value of our biometric data to private companies or government institutions. We explored the idea of a wearable that can be easily distributed, and can instantly communicate this concern. Naturally, a mask is the simplest way to prevent face tracking A.I from identifying us. Although, as A.I gets more sophisticated, certain softwares are capable of identifying even a masked face.

MY ROLE

User Onboarding

Once we defined our message, my task was to reliably onboard our users and guide them to the template. To principally educate them on the value of their biometric data, they are guided by A.R through answers to the questions they may have for the mask wearer. With the short time available to me, using the A.R prototyping platform Metaverse proved an expedient solution.

PROCESS

Using QR Codes

We chose QR codes as they are a simple way to rapidly communicate media. We played with different materials, checking to see if the camera could puck up the code on a variety of surfaces.