Three Ways School, Bath

For over 10 years I helped to develop and run the Sensory Studio at Three Ways School. This was an incredibly versatile space that could be adapted to any area of the curriculum and provide for a plethora of therapeutic and educational activities. It facilitated multi-sensory and immersive experiences making use of three projectors to impose one super-wide image, a large bespoke lighting system, a 12 speaker surround sound system, a vibrating floor with interactive floor projection, a range of sensors and haptic devices, and a variety of alternative control interfaces for use by students and staff.

In my role as 'Interaction Designer/Programmer' I developed content and used sensors, cameras, microphones, RFID tag readers and wireless mobile devices to trigger various lighting, video and sound events. Students of any ability could gain control over their environment and interact with others in a way that may not have been open to them before. Teachers could wirelessly control a particular scenario and make use of auditory, tactile, visual, taste and smell stimuli with integrated music and dance therapy. We aimed to provide pupils with the opportunity to learn whilst working, exploring and experiencing independently.

During this time, with collaboration from Asha Ward, we also developed novel, bespoke and adaptable digital musical instruments with the aim of having a music group that included students with quite profound disabilities. We wanted to create devices that would encourage natural interaction and be immediately accessible, but offer the chance for development and adapt to more challenging use as the user progressed.

We also enabled the creative use of technology throughout the school and ran STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) related workshops with electronics and coding sessions that attempted to include non-readers.