Narratives of Isolation
Jordan Byrne, commended for the Alexander Thomson Scholarship 2021, shares their submission piece featuring an illustration and accompanying narrative. You can find more information on the scholarship here.
It’s hard to comprehend the impact Covid-19 has had on the world. We likely won’t understand it for years to come. Out of the scene of devastation, it’s clear no community was hit as hard as the clinically vulnerable and shielding populace. An almost instantaneous cut off from the world outside occurred, and they were plunged into the grips of isolation and loneliness.
Slate 1
“The warning signs had been popping up on screens for a while now. Scores of people being treated for pneumonia from an unknown cause. It starts to spread, the World Health Organisation declare a global emergency & the now infamous term of ‘lockdown’ was quietly uttered. The evidence of the seriousness of this illness was growing into a mountain, dwarfing everyday life.
And then it happened. The buzz came through on my phone, and sent a shudder through my body.
Lockdown from midnight tonight. Now is the time to stay at home. The vulnerable in our society must shield and protect themselves.
I felt like I had been launched into low-earth orbit. The world outside my window was still visible, but so far out of reach. I was drifting further and further from society, and human connection.”
The initial wave passed. The devastation was understood, and a return to the old way of life pushed into view.
Slate 2
“I awoke everyday with the nagging thoughts of ‘today’s the day I step outside’.
I imagine this is what an astronaut must feel like. The desire to leave the space they have been confined to for months, but knowing that when they do, they’ll be stepping into a hostile environment.
I kitted myself up, mask, gloves and sanitiser and stood in the vestibule between the front door and storm door like I was standing in an airlock, waiting to pull the lever that would expose me to the external elements.
Like the astronaut, I knew a failure in protective equipment could be life-altering. But the desire to feel the wind, the rain, the elements grew too strong, and I began my EVA.
It was a strange feeling walking between the rows of people lives. An ethereal floating feeling took over as I dodged the potential hazards and experienced society once again.
Our advances in technology have allowed humans to connect all over the world at the click of a button, and provided sanity in these times. However, it will never replace real human contact. Ultimately to this point, no matter how many screens you put in front of you, you will still be connecting to a 3D world, in a 2D manner.
In this case. The risk was worth the reward.”
We now must look towards the future. How can we alleviate the isolation for the shielding? How can we help them connect with the world outside, and keep up work and societal responsibilities? Well, the answer lies in technology.
Slate 3
“We have two choices. Experience the world through a 2D screen and remove the possibility of viral infection, or step out our front doors, and potentially get sick.
So we must create the middle ground. A compromise in ideas that won’t compromise your health.
I propose a creation of a room of Augmented Reality that could be built for their shielding community in their property. A room that provides the experience of the real world with multiple sensory inputs: visual, haptic, auditory & somatosensory.
The chamber will allow a real interaction with a 3D world, feeding in realtime light and weather data allowing the user to immerse themselves in work & societal activities, like they normally would - with no risk to themselves from the virus.
With a 3D and zero boundary experience, we will see an easing of feelings of isolation and loss from the pre-pandemic world. Ultimately improving human connection, and thus the human experience through a time of uncertainty.”
Jordan Byrne Commendation | The Alexander Thomson Scholarship 2021