Elle’s Portfolio Site
Product Strategist and Immersive Experiencesacross Design, Technology, and Business
Elle’s Portfolio Site
Product Strategist and Immersive Experiencesacross Design, Technology, and Business
Spirits is an interactive elemental installation that transforms hand gestures and bodily movement into sound, motion, visuals, and tactile feedback.
Made by Elle Zhou, Clarence Keith, Kiho Hong, Zavion Green, Andy Yu
Brief
Spirits explores how physical computing can make invisible forces feel controllable. Instead of pressing buttons on a screen, users interact through pressure, proximity, waving, and pushing gestures.
Inspired from the animation “Avatar: The Last Air Bender”, each element responds differently, giving the experience a more magical and embodied quality.
The goal was not only to prototype four separate interactions, but to create a coherent world where hardware, code, form, and digital visuals feel like parts of the same ritual environment.
Inspired from the animation “Avatar: The Last Air Bender”, each element responds differently, giving the experience a more magical and embodied quality.
The goal was not only to prototype four separate interactions, but to create a coherent world where hardware, code, form, and digital visuals feel like parts of the same ritual environment.
Concept
Earth
Users press down on a physical plate. The system reads pressure input and responds with vibration, making Earth feel heavy, grounded, and tactile.
Users press down on a physical plate. The system reads pressure input and responds with vibration, making Earth feel heavy, grounded, and tactile.
Water
Users wave their hand in sync with the Water pillar. Multiple ultrasonic sensors detect the gesture and trigger a water response.
Users wave their hand in sync with the Water pillar. Multiple ultrasonic sensors detect the gesture and trigger a water response.
Fire
Users “cultivate” fire with their hands. The system interprets hand movement through multiple sensors, then activates brighter animated and audio feedback.
Users “cultivate” fire with their hands. The system interprets hand movement through multiple sensors, then activates brighter animated and audio feedback.
Air
Users push their palm toward the Air totem. A proximity sensor detects the gesture and triggers a wind-like response.
Users push their palm toward the Air totem. A proximity sensor detects the gesture and triggers a wind-like response.
Early sketches explored the totem structure, shell container, HTML interface, and animation ideas.
The team modeled the semi-circular base and four distinct elemental pillars to establish the spatial layout.
Wiring Schematics
Material List
- Core Microcontrollers - 4 Xiao ESP32 C3s
- 10 Ultrasonic distance sensors (HC-SR04 style)
- Vibration Motor
- Solder Breadboard
- Jumper wires (M-M, M-F, F-F)
- External USB-C power for ESP32
- Resistive components:
- 1kΩ, 10kΩ, 5k1Ω resistors
- Transistors:
- NPN transistors from the starter kit
- 1 Pressure Sensor
- MDF Wood (Laser Cut)
Electronic Housing Components
- PLA (3D Print)
Process
Code Design
Main Loop Flow