Augmenting Berlin Underground
A university project exploring the possibilities of protest with Augmented Reality in public spaces
As part of a course during my communication design studies, we were asked to explore the possibilities of Augmented Reality in public spaces. In addition to just experimenting with AR-technology, I was interested in exploring if AR could be used to create awareness or protests in public. This is how I became familiar with AR as a possible tool for activism.
I decided to augment the information signs of the Berlin Underground trains to comment on the importance of a respectful, amicable society, and to empower passengers to act with civil courage, especially when facing sexual harassment or discrimination in public spaces.
Do not smoke, eat or drink
On public transportation, warning and information signs remind us of the rules that are supposed to keep everything in order and make sharing a space with many strangers as pleasant as possible. They show banal, often almost self-evident things, like ‘no-smoking in the subway’ or the no-food sign that hinders you from eating a kebap in front of 30 people.
The existing rules are supposed to provide some basic comfort in public transport. But for marginalised groups, there are even more important aspects to feel comfortable and safe in public that nobody seems to address.
Where is the sign for respect and helpfulness?
Among all these signs we can’t find a single one that demonstrates social manners or behavior between people. And yet, in a neighborly community, openness, helpfulness and mutual respect create the foundation that makes people feel safe enough to freely move in public spaces.
Public sexual harassment, sexualized violence and discrimination based on sexual identity or gender are still a part of our everyday lives. What’s more, such public harassment decisively restricts the freedom and development of the affected person’s life. Studies show that being subjected to sexual harassment has a negative impact on both a persons physical and mental health and can even interfere with their career, blocking success and personal satisfaction.
Stronger together — be an ally and step in
Although being surrounded by people can be the hardest part about being in a public space, it can also be the greatest benefit: there is power in numbers. Those in a marginalized group can be outnumbered and ill equipped to get out of a situation of discrimination or harassment by themselves. Instead, people that feel more safe or in a more privileged position have the power to help. Sexual harassment or discrimination can be prevented or interrupted if bystanders intervene. Standing up for each other and showing the people subjected to discrimination that you have their back is an effective way to prevent current and future situations of discrimination and harassment. Public support shifts the public mindset towards a more respectful and supportive status quo.
There are several ways to show support, that do not require getting yourself directly involved and that can be very subtle. A simple question, distraction, or just some attention can stop such an otherwise hostile situation. Ask: “Are you ok?”, “Is there a problem?” or “Do you want to exit the train with me?”. The project Hollaback website provides a helpful list of ways to step in without putting yourself in danger. It is important to keep in mind to always call the police if you feel like you can not handle the situation!
Can we use AR to promote civil courage?
AR provides the possibility to add an additional layer on a medium and bring new context to it. Using this principle, I connected the conventional meaning and visuals of the train warning signs to my interpretation of important social “rules”.
Can we use AR to promote civil courage or empower bystanders to support people subjected to discrimination and harassment in public places?
Building an invisible second information layer with AR makes it possible to give immaterial comments that are independent of a specific space or time. Since the information signs are distributed all over the public space of Berlin, the access point to the project replicates itself with the existence of every sign. If you find the right visual, you can see the project any time, as long as you have a phone with the necessary app. The same way AR makes it possible to quickly and easily distribute a message across a large public space at little to no cost and start conversation between people.
On the other hand, we are dealing with an invisible layer. On first sight, it is absolutely impossible to suspect an AR project is hidden behind a public sign. In addition, the necessary digital device and internet connection can be a barrier for successful communication. I found that AR is an ineffective tool to display important information that must be perceived by as many people as possible in a short period of time. It can, however, be useful if your message will benefit from the disconnection of space and time, at a low cost, and have the playful component of AR.
In AR I structured each animation into four parts. First you will see an animation that modifies the original graphic into a symbol for togetherness and helpfulness. This is followed up by an information part and a call for action that empowers passengers to be an ally.
Explore the project yourself
1. Install the app
Download and install the Artivive app from your Appstore of choice. It is for free and there is no registration needed.
2. Scan the signs with your phone
Once the app has been installed, you can scan one of the four information signs seen on the Berlin U-Bahn or bus system. Try it yourself the next time you take public transport in Berlin. Since we’re all currently under quarantine, you can use the signs displayed in this article.
It is my hope to make more people feel empowered to step up for each other and start a conversation about a safer and more respectful environment for all of us.
This project was created at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin/ HTW Berlin by Philine Schell under the supervision of Professor Alexander Müller-Rakow.
