SOUND ON: As part of the exhibition, I created a central media piece that explores how each device might function while questioning the potential of the human voice as a source of power through sound.
Vocal Power:
Speculative Design
RESEARCH QUESTION
What if we could harness energy through the power of our voices?
OVERVIEW
The world is developing at an unprecedented pace, and our demand for energy continues to grow. At the same time, the European Union has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The transition towards a climate-neutral society is therefore both an urgent challenge and an opportunity to imagine and build more sustainable futures. In response, Vocal Power asks a speculative question: what if we could harness the power of the human voice, our ability to communicate, express emotion, and make sound - as a new source of energy? Could vocal expression open up alternative possibilities within sustainable power generation and communication technologies? Vocal Power is a proposal and visual exploration of potential futures, examining hypothetical ways in which energy might be harvested from human vocal cords, informed by early scientific studies in the field. The project aims to provoke discussion and further speculation around how the power of our voices could be harnessed through communication, not only to meet our growing energy demands but also to explore how such ideas might benefit both humanity and the planet in the near future.