dnam – Looking Outwards – 02

“Forest Friends at Osu Wexner Medical Center”
2014-2015

In the medical center, Forest Friends was installed to help doctors cure cancer patients. Focusing on helping alleviate stress and pain for children suffering from cancer, Forest Friends is an interactive touch screen set in the waiting room. Patients can come in and check in their hospital wristbands, which would then summon a forest animal. The forest background reacts to the patients; for example, when a patient presses long enough on to a screen, a tree grows. The background changes due to such elements, and the constant change of background helps patients not get bored of the game. However, to give a sense of familiarity, a specific animal is assigned to patient. Therefore, when a patient logs in, the animal from last time appears once again.