30-minute break

30-minute break is an assistive technology I envisioned for 2050. Its conception is inspired by the high rates of poor mental health amongst prisoners in New Zealand. Currently, 91% of NZ prisoners suffer from poor mental health, prevalent within that percentage are Maori and Pasifika ethnic groups as they are disproportionately represented in our prisoner population. While only constituting 15% of NZ's population, Maoris comprise 56% of our prison population; young Maoris between the ages of 18-28 are 10 times more likely than their white-counterparts of becoming incarcerated. A similar situation befell the Pacific community; they make-up 7% of our overall population but 15% of our prison population, in addition, prisoners of Pacific descent are more likely to suffer from mental illness compared to any other group in prison. (Cavney & Friedman, 2018).

Mental health is one of the biggest barriers to community integration after incarceration, along with prejudice and discriminatory behaviours from the public. This situation would become increasingly problematic as our overall population continues to age. In 2050, Maori and Pacific communities will continue to have a relatively young population compared to other ethic groups. Right now, they comprise about a third of our under 25 population, this number is predicted to increase substantially in the next few decades. https://www.stats.govt.nz/

If we continue incarcerating these two ethnic groups at the same rate, then prisoner mental health would have to become a topic of discussion, for the benefit of the health of the nation, the economy as well as to fulfill our legislative responsibility for Maoris, who, under the Treaty of Waitangi we swore to protect.

30-minute break is a holographic technology that replaces the traditional phone call over glass partition during visitation hours. The glass partition remains but prisoner and visitor wear holographic glasses to communicate. 30-minute break has the ability to simulate any natural scene upon request. For instance it is possible for prisoner and visitor to spend their 30 minutes being immersed in the same holographic space, that space could be a scene of their upbringing or any other natural environment that the prisoner values. This device was conceptualised after much research into alternative and culture-oriented criminal, medical and educational systems. For instance, Rangatahi Courts, a youth court that is based on rehabilitation instead of punishment of young offenders. It recognises that for Maori youth, there are many underlining reasons for their crime, and they are related to the decades of language and culture oppression, land loss, and the long-lasting effects of colonisation. It reconnects the youth back to his iwi and his land.

30-minute break gives the option to do the same. It allows some movement, some exploration in the holographic stimulation, however that is limited to the length and width of the visitation cubicle. It can stimulate natural sounds found in the environment but it cannot stimulate sensory functions such as touch or smell. The other user in the same virtual space is also seen as a hologram, which makes tactility impossible. This would ease some anxious feelings about the distribution of this product because it would make the visitor safe from physical harm. However, they can hear each other talk even in holographic form. This would give them the opportunity to have their conversation in a natural setting of their choice.

In addition, after researching into images that are neurologically nourishing, I found that designs based on biophilic principles (biophilia is defined as a "love of life" a love that cannot be had if one is devoid of nature, this comes from an evolutionary biology perspective) are the most stimulating to the brain. (Söderlund & Newman, 2017). Prospect, refuge and fractal patterning are biophilic principles. Prospect and refuge refers to the fact that our ancestors needed to find new land prospects, but that was best scouted from a place of safety or refuge. Fractal patterning are natural patterns that narrows with distance. Thus, the natural scenes stimulated from 30-minute break will always be viewed from a high altitude that feels secure.

For more please go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PlrC2dJYtZ-fFXHqcxWh-dE8xtxdB6kj/view?usp=sharing

References:

Cavney, J., & Friedman, S. H. (2018). Culture, Mental Illness, and Prison: A New Zealand Perspective. In A. Mills & K. Kendall (Eds.), Mental Health in Prisons: Critical Perspectives on Treatment and Confinement (pp. 211–234). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94090-8_9

Söderlund, J., & Newman, P. (2017). Improving mental health in prisons through biophilic design. The Prison Journal, 97(6), 750–772.

https://www.stats.govt.nz/