Ooz Goose

In collaboration with xDesign Labs, Dutch client De VerBeelding commissioned a human-animal interface in the form of a robot goose equipped with a wireless 2.4 GHz color video camera, two-way audio communications, and self contained propulsion system. Wireless remote control via the innovative egg interface enabled users to take a first-person view of the goose and drive the robot by taking hold and tilting the ‘ostrich egg’. Users may actuate its fully articulated neck by operating the ‘chicken egg’ as a 3-D joystick.

Design for Interaction

As part of the exhibit, encounters with real geese are captured on digital video, uploaded to an interactive website where users can annotate and define their goose conversations. Ultimately, a goose translator can be derived from the data using waveform association with user supplied definitions of the goose speak.

Design for Community

The ooz Goose is part of the larger ooz project by Natalie Jeremijenko’s xDesign Labs. The ooz project is an “inverted zoo” which attempts to improve the level of communication between animals and humans in a zoo-like setting. In a true ooz, visitors would not only view animals in actual (non-simulated) habitats, but would have more meaningful interactions than simply tapping on the glass.