Abstract
We propose a plant-based ambient display called PlanT, which represents information by growing up themselves. Utilizing the difference in growth rate depending on the type of plant and how to grow, PlanT visualizes information with the property of gradually accumulating over time in the medium to long term span of several days to several years. In addition to visualizing information, growing itself can bring positive effects to people, which can be applicable to motivating people’s steady efforts towards a faraway goal. To demonstrate our concept, we implemented a proof-of-prototype of PlanT using radish sprouts and showed the degree of subjective growth can be determined by controlling growth stimuli such as water and light. We then conducted a user study to investigate how our system can motivate the user’s continuous task (for a week) compared with a baseline method using on-screen representation. Results show that our system provided higher subjective motivation to perform the task compared to the baseline.
