How might we get pollution data into people's lives in a meaningful way? What if we build a conversational interface for our air? 

Aera

Planetary-conscious and ubiquitous conversational interface

 
 
 

Role
Lead Designer, Conceptual strategist
Storyteller, Interaction designer

Team
Celina Lacaze, Dani Sanchez, and Jack Wilkinson

External Partners
NASA Earth Science • WeAct • 

Recognitions
Presented at the Oxford Futures Forum • Finalist for the Center for New York City Affairs Prized Solutions: Reimagining NYC competition.

 

 

To do this we have found a partner in NASA whose role is to collect data so that it can be used to drive positive change. NASA is launching two new satellites: Tempo in 2018 and Chronos in 2020. These satellites will allow us to measure air pollution in the united states to the square km every hour, giving us unprecedented understanding into air pollution.
NASA wants to put that data in people's hands and so do we.

Aera is a planetary-conscious, ubiquitous, conversational interface that connects people to the earth’s air through various apps, such as social media, messenger, calendars, to engage and nudge users to be better global participants. Aera’s playful nature allows data to be anthropomorphised unlocking new ways to engage and understand air pollution and its effects at various scales the while leaving spaces for the interaction to go seamlessly overtime in anticipation of future NASA satellites, Tempo and Chronos.

 

 
 
 

Aera has two functions:

  1. A nudge function which shows up in social media, calendar and health platforms to help as a friendly reminder of how to be a better actor.
  2. A chat function which gives current local pollution conditions and answers questions about pollution at various scales. It also sends funny visuals to help bring the overwhelming scale of pollution to digestible and actionable terms.

    Ultimately, through daily interaction, guided by psychological models, and infused with predictive analytics, Aera can direct and support behavior change through daily interactions.

 
 

Data Viz

Gifs

Directions to Clean Air

Tips

 

The Nitty Gritty

Service Blueprint 

 

Interface Architecture

 

Systems Map

 

Teamwork