Engaging with nature sounds and citizen science by designing for creative and contextual audio encounters

Abstract

Wildlife calls are the best witnesses to the health of ecosystems,if only we know how to listen to them. Eforts to understand and inform restoration of healthy ecosystems with environmental audio recordings languish from insufcient tools to learn and identify sounds in recordings. To address this problem, we designed and playtested the Bristle Whistle Challenge prototype with ten play-ers. We explored how to design delightful interactions with audio for gaining awareness of nature sounds and supporting wildlife conservation through citizen science. We found that rather than presenting audio alone, it was necessary to connect sounds to other senses and experiences in creative ways to impart meaning and enhance engagement.We ofer recommendations to design creative and contextual interactions with media to build awareness of na-ture's wonders. We call for greater eforts in interaction design to engage people with nature, which is the key to turning around our environmental crisis.