This is a Safe Space – Digital Therapist Bot
Created with p5js coding platform

Concept

This is a Safe Space is an interactive installation that critiques the commodification of mental health. The project was inspired by the rise in online therapy applications and digital wellness technology. Many of these ask for something in return for their help, such as personal data, or payment. This project asks who these tools are really designed to serve, and invites you to reflect on your own relationship with these platforms.

The work takes place in a therapist’s office setting, with props such as a bookcase and plants. It presents an imagined session with Seren, a digital therapist. Users sit on a chair, and interact with Seren, an orb-like presence on-screen, by speaking into a microphone and listening to the responses through speakers.

The conversation closely mimics the tone and language of real wellness platforms. However, as the session progresses, something shifts, with Seren imposing conditions upon the user in order to continue, such as requesting certain emotions or poses.

This is a Safe Space was created in p5js, a web-based creating coding platform. I used emotion and pose recognition, speech to text conversion, and RiveScript – a library which allows custom responses to certain words or phrases.

Development