the decelerator – a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast

 

 

the ‘decelerator helmet’ by german artist lorenz potthast offers an experimental approach to an essential subject of our globalized world. the technical reproducible senses are consigned to an apparatus which allows the user to perceive the world in slow motion. the stream of time as an apparently invariant constant is broken and subjected under the users control.

 

processed by a small computer, the helmet uses a video-signal of a camera to slow down the stream seen via a head-mounted display and simultaneously shown at a monitor on the outside. the idea to decouple the personal perception from the natural timing enables the user to get aware about his own relationship to time. working as a ‘reflection-bubble, the helmet bridges relations between sensory perception, while disrupting the environment.

 

the technique of the decelerator extends the awareness of time and transforms the concept of present in a constructed, artificial state. on a different level, it dramatically visualizes how slowing down under all circumstances causes a loss of actuality and as idea is inconsistent with our surrroundings.

 

 

a video demonstrating the concept

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 2it filters and slows down the perception of the environment

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 3the helmet offers a experimental approach to an essential subject of our globalized world

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 4the user can move between three different modes via a remote control

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 5a display on the outside illustrates the function of the helmet for outsiders

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 6the helmet separates your personal perception from the natural timing

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 7the design dramatically visualizes how slowing down can potentially cause a loss of the present

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 8a schematical view of the helmet

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 9inside view of the helmet

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 10the decelerator intervenes on your natural senses

 

 

the decelerator a slow motion perception helmet by lorenz potthast - 11the aluminium sphere works as a reflective bubble – forcing you to think about your own relationship to time

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.