Rhythms of Focus Embodied Focus System
It is a multisensory system designed to support sustained attention without relying on screens, developed in collaboration with Zhequan Jing. Combining a tactile handheld device with an ambient water-based installation, the project explores how rhythm, repetition, and subtle physical feedback can guide users into deeper states of presence. By transforming focus into a tangible, embodied experience, it proposes an alternative to digital productivity tools, one that slows the mind and reconnects attention to the body and environment.
How might a multi-sensory rhythm help us notice the drift of attention and gently come back?
Early Explorations
Diagram - how the system began to merge
The Loop of Focus
Water Device - make drift perceptible without interrupting
The water device by Zhequan Jing is an ambient installation featuring a row of solenoids that release droplets into a transparent water chamber. Controlled rhythms generate ripples and layered patterns on the surface, translating invisible signals into visible motion. Through repetition and subtle variation, the system invites viewers to slow down and attune to the quite rhythm of water and time.
Handheld Device
- This object is not a controller. It’s a grounding companion.
The handheld device by Yingying Chen is a tactile interface designed around three gestures: reach, scroll, and press. Embedded with a rotary encoder and ESP32, it converts subtle movements into rhythmic signals that connect to the water installation. Shaped through ergonomic testing and iterative prototyping, it encourages slow, intentional interaction and embodied focus.
System Intergation - a close-loop focus system
Interaction Process
