interactive media artist tangible interfaces researcher new media enthusiast

Behind My Back

Wearable, Speculative Design

Exhibitions: NYU Abu Dhabi

Category: Computational wearable

Technologies used: Feather M4 Express, , 3D modelling & printing, sensors and electronics

‘Behind My Back’ is a wearable system designed to explore how everyday accessories can integrate digital technology to enhance personal awareness and safety. Consisting of a crown and necklace, it uses a Raspberry Pi camera and proximity sensors to detect intrusive gazes or unwelcome proximity, triggering a glowing pendant that vibrates and emits light in response.

Inspired by the challenges women face navigating public spaces at night in Bangladesh, this project transforms traditional jewelry into an interactive safeguard while sparking conversations about societal accountability. Drawing from speculative design, Behind My Back reimagines wearables as tools for both personal empowerment and social commentary.

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The Eye of the Sands

New Media, Posthuman Design

Exhibitions: NYU Abu Dhabi

Category: Computational wearable

Technologies used: Feather M4 Express , 3D modelling & printing, sensors and electronics

‘The Eye of the Sands’ is a kinetic sculpture set in the desert. It stands guard– a mysterious, silent watcher. This ethereal installation pierces the darkness with its reactive glowing eye, nestled in a stretched membrane held taut between two illuminated pillars.

The eye at its heart serves as a powerful reminder that the seemingly barren landscape of the desert pulse with hidden life, watching and waiting as travelers pass through their realm. It stands as a bridge between worlds – the empty and the occupied, the passive and the alert – inviting us to reconsider our relationship with these timeless landscapes that have witnessed countless passages through their silent expanses.

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Recyclean

Design Thinking for Problem Solving

Presentation:
6 Metrotech, Brooklyn
NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Category: Design Thinking, UX Research

Technologies used: Figma, OpenCV, NFC tags, Protopie

Recyclean is an interactive widget designed to encourage college students to recycle more effectively by integrating digital media with physical waste disposal systems. Using NFC tags embedded in bins, it connects with smartphones, employs computer vision to analyze waste, and directs users to the correct bin while providing real-time educational insights about recycling.

Rooted in design thinking and behavioral nudges, Recyclean streamlines waste sorting and fosters environmental awareness through technology-driven engagement. The project has been recognized for its innovative approach and is currently under review for implementation across NYU Tandon’s Brooklyn campuses.

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Synchroscape 1.0

Motion Harmony, Computer Vision

Exhibition:
NYUAD Capstone Studio

Category: Computational Media

Technologies used: OpenCV, Processing, Microsoft Azure Kinect, Ableton

Synchroscape is an interactive installation that transforms movement into music, inviting participants to experience harmony through synchronized motion. Using JavaScript and OpenCV models, the system captures silhouettes on a giant screen, generating sound based on their gestures—flowing seamlessly when they move in sync and creating dissonance when they fall out of rhythm.

Inspired by Myron Krueger’s Videospace, Synchroscape blurs the boundary between the physical and digital, turning bodies into instruments of collaboration. When participants connect by touching their fingertips, the system responds with visual and auditory transformations, reinforcing the power of presence and connection in shared spaces.

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© Q M Naushadul Islam | 2025