Too Conscious is an immersive, emotion-responsive installation that transforms an ordinary stairwell into a space for introspection and emotional acknowledgment. The project explores the intersection of facial recognition technology and emotional wellbeing, turning a mundane transitional space into a moment of meaningful pause.
As visitors enter the stairwell, a camera positioned above captures their face and begins analyzing their expressions in real-time. The system reads subtle facial cues—the curve of a smile, the tension in a furrowed brow, widened eyes, or the slight flare of nostrils—to identify one of eight emotional states: joy, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust, anticipation, or neutrality. Within moments, the space awakens in response.
The stairwell floods with color-coded lighting that mirrors the detected emotion—warm yellow for joy, deep blue for sadness, fiery red for anger, or soft green for fear. As visitors descend the steps, text projections appear beneath their feet, first posing a gentle question: "Is fear on your mind?" This invitation to self-reflect is followed by a personalized affirmation that meets them where they are emotionally, offering words like "Fear is a wave; it will pass. Feel its energy, then anchor yourself to the quiet, unyielding power residing deep inside your spirit."
The experience aims to create meaningful micro-moments of self-awareness. Rather than dismissing or suppressing emotions, Too Conscious invites users to pause, acknowledge what they're feeling, and receive supportive messaging. For those experiencing negative emotions, the affirmations offer grounding and reassurance. For those feeling joy or surprise, the system celebrates those positive states.
By situating this interaction within a space people pass through daily, the installation challenges the autopilot nature of routine movement. Too Conscious proposes that technology, thoughtfully applied, can foster emotional intelligence and create unexpected opportunities for connection with our inner selves.
