A-VOID

01 — The Trigger

We communicate more than ever — but not necessarily better.

Instant messaging, social media and automated communication have removed much of the friction that once existed between a thought and the moment it was expressed.

A-VOID began by questioning what happens when communication becomes constant, effortless and increasingly automatic.

Less, but better.

02 — The Speculative Future

Conversation becomes a resource.

A-VOID imagines a dystopian future in which excessive communication has contributed to an increasingly exhausted society.

Communication is no longer unlimited.

Words carry an energy footprint, conversation is monitored, and people are encouraged to preserve their communication allowance.

A-VOID exists as an object within this fictional system.

04 — The Behaviour

Your tone determines how much you can speak.

A-VOID continuously listens to the wearer's voice and categorizes the conversation into three states.

The more aggressive the conversation becomes, the smaller the communication allowance becomes.

05 — The Interaction

Tone → Allowance → Warning → Reflection

A microphone positioned near the voice captures the conversation. The system analyzes the signal and assigns the user a word allowance according to their tone.

As the wearer approaches 90% of the limit, A-VOID begins producing an audible warning. The warning becomes increasingly urgent as the wearer continues speaking.

If the user remains below their limit, they are rewarded with additional words during the next cycle.

The aim is not silence.
The aim is awareness.

06 — Designing the Object

An uncomfortable boundary around the wearer.

The form went through several explorations around the mouth, jaw, face and shoulders. Early concepts behaved more like masks or devices that directly projected speech.

The final direction deliberately moved away from the face.

Instead, A-VOID became an exaggerated object surrounding the neck — large enough to create a physical boundary around the wearer and intentionally draw attention to itself.

Its scale makes the object uncomfortable to ignore.
Just like the behaviour it is questioning.

07 — Building A-VOID

From speculative idea to functional prototype.

The shell was divided into multiple sections, 3D printed in ABS, assembled, filled, sanded and finished to appear as a single continuous object.

The top lid was fabricated separately and integrated with the internal electronic system.

• Arduino Nano
• High-sensitivity microphone
• Dual speakers
• Amplifier
• Four lithium-ion batteries
• Charging module
• Custom electronic mounts

08 — Coding Behaviour

The interaction was designed as much through code as through form.

A-VOID processes incoming microphone values through three stages: Receiving → Processing → Emitting.

Audio values are filtered into three conversational states. These values control the user's communication allowance and the warning behaviour of the speakers.

The physical object therefore does not simply contain technology.

Its code defines its behaviour.