POLYMORPHIC PLAY, 2024

POLYMORPHIC PLAY, 2024

What if tactile digital interactions could bridge the gap between lived experiences and collective understanding of genetic conditions?

GENETICS & IDENTITY

JAVASCRIPT PROTOTYPE (P5.JS), BASE TEMPLATE CLOTH!!W BY KYANAIZ

This p5.js prototype introduces an interactive experience exploring the embodied impact of Sickle Cell Disease. Designed as the foundation for a future game, it uses tactile interactions—manipulating cloth stiffness and fluidity—translated from symptoms to reflect the lived experience.

A healthy cell prototype is included for contrast, designed to be more reactive, elastic, and responsive, highlighting the functional differences compared to the restricted, stiff behaviour of the sickle cell version.

Interact with the Cloth:

  • Drag with the mouse: Click and drag on the canvas to pull the cloth.

  • The ease of interaction will vary based on the selected mode.

Cut the Cloth:

  • Press and hold D to enable the cutting feature.

  • Drag your mouse over the cloth while holding D to cut through it.

Switch/Reset the Cloth:

  • Switch between modes (press 1 or 2) to reset the cloth with the respective properties.

MIGRAINE (CACNA1A, TRPM8, KCNK18)
Symptom Translation Parameters

Light-Headedness and Sensitivity to Movement - Gravity:
Value: 0.02
Very low to simulate a delicate, almost floating sensation of light-headedness.

Particle Sensitivity:
Mouse Drag Smoothing: 0.3
Reduces the interaction response for subtle movements.
Velocity damping upon release: 0.5 to create a slower dissipation.

Head Pressure - Damping:
Value: 0.97
Increased damping for particles to resist movement, simulating the sensation of heaviness and head pressure.

Visual Disturbances (Aura) - Flashes:

Frequency: Randomly every 50–120 frames.
Colour: Bright white/yellow (255, 255, random(200, 255)).
Opacity: 120 for vivid, noticeable flashes.
Throbbing Effect:
Background alpha modulated with a sine wave.
Range: 200–220 to simulate subtle pulsation.

Pulsing Pain - Cloth Spacing:
Default spacing: 20px.
Fluctuates slightly (±1px) every 300 frames to represent the intermittent throbbing of pain.
Range: 18–22px.
Spring Stiffness:
Base Value: 0.2.
Random fluctuation: ±0.03 to simulate inconsistent tension in the cloth.

Sensory Overload - Particle Overreaction:
Particles respond to forces with slight exaggeration but remain subtle to avoid an aggressive effect.
Interaction delayed slightly with a smooth drag response.