LO9: A Focus on Women and Non-binary Practitioners in Computational Art

I researched the designer of physical computational devices kate Hartman.
Specifically, I was interested in her project “Botanicalls.” Created in
2006, the name implies the purpose of the device: a combination of
“botanicals” and “calls,” as in phone calls. The device Hartman developed
featured sensors that detected states of the house plant: moisture levels,
leaf droopness, leaf colors, etc. and translate them to a more human-
understandable language. Using custom-developed software, the device
emails and calls human users to notify the caretaker of the plant of these
statuses and translates them to what the plant needs: ex. more light,
more water, etc. I think this project is really cool as it bridges the
gap between the human and natural worlds. It’s especially beneficial for
people unfamiliar with caring for plants, as it guides them through the
process and deepens the connection and understanding of the plant world.
Kate Hartman is based in Toronto and works at OCAD University as a professor
of wearable and mobile technology. She studies wearable technology and
is passionate about making human interactions with the natural world more
connective and integrative through her products.

Hi!