ISKRA is a digital response to living in a globalised, fast-changing world. According to the 2019 UK online mental health journal: ‘mental health and behavioural problems (e.g. depression, anxiety and drug use) are reported to be the primary drivers of disability worldwide, causing over 40 million years of disability… It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem..’
I will develop ISKRA as both a gallery installation and an accessible app that can provide self-therapy via digital avatars. Using the 3D mapping corrector and SIRI, ISKRA will allow the user to input an image and voice of any person from the past or present and recreate them as animated avatars. As an accessible app for iPhone and Android ISKRA will:
1. Enable users to resolve conflicts through conversations with the avatars and process grief over those who have died or who are no longer in their lives.
2. Serve as a virtual companion to the elderly or lonely in society.
3. Inspired by esoteric practitioner, Kenneth Soares, and the Landmark forum self development programme, ISKRA will offer daily mantras via the avatar, a more accessible form of self therapy for those suffering from mental challenges such as autism, dyspraxia, depression.
Based on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), the ultimate aim of ISKRA as an app is to prompt people’s imaginative powers to overcome personal traumas through the use of personalised avatars and auditory mantras. The app provides accessible self-therapy, as the users will be able to relate to the personalised avatars they use without the costs of expensive self-development programmes.