Collective Echos is a spatial audio and data visualization exhibition debuted at Ars Electronica from September 6-10, 2023. Through an embodied, spatial audio experience, Collective Echos makes tangible a living library of human experiences.
In the face of intensifying social fragmentation and collapse of shared reality, we look to ancient wisdoms such as small-group dialogue and sensemaking to inform the design of a novel, AI-supported pro-social communication space: the social dialogue network. Here, we gather communities in facilitated, constructive conversation and equip them with visualizations and machine learning-backed insights that empower them to “make sense” of their collective experience.
Throughout, participants maintain agency over their voice. Structures which provide the freedom and protection for each individual to dictate how and within which spheres their stories are shared enable online and in-person gatherings where all can be brave not loud. This partnership between cutting-edge and ancient social technologies enables us to nurture agency and trust in civic life, and, ultimately, bolster values core to a functioning democracy.
Collective Echos shepherds us towards an understanding of the value of personal narrative in engendering trust and how we surface underheard voices with privacy and authenticity. We invite visitors to listen and explore the breadth of our library through accompanying visualizations. This network of stories makes space for complex, empathetic interactions that we hope inspire visitors to participate in this intimate system firsthand.
