London design company ‘Marshmallow Laser Feast’ has created an innovative virtual reality helmet that allows users to experience nature through the eyes of forest creatures. Part of their latest art installation called ‘In the Eyes of the Animals’, the immersive opportunity is commissioned by the AND Festival and is set in the Grizedale Forest, a lake district in the UK.
Using custom software to combine footage from Lidar (remote sensing technology), CT scanning, photogrammetry and a 360º aerial camera, the designers have found a way for visitors to fly above the tree canopy, explore landscapes and come face to face with other forest dwelling creatures.
The ultimate goal of the project was to create an understanding of how forest animals process optical information, and give people a chance to reflect on their own visual perceptions of the forest.
According to participants, it was a project that sure pushed their boundaries. For a taste of what it is like to wear the helmet, watch the teaser clip for ‘In the Eyes of The Animals’ below:
Check out more of Marshmallow Laser Feast’s work on Facebook and Vimeo.