The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic served as a cultural reset to some extent and has been the cause of the economic collapse worldwide. Societal norms have changed radically and living a carefree life in the open air is now viewed as an absolute luxury, one that we once took for granted. It’s a new wave for the digital age, and our incredibly fragile state of nature is at an all-time low. There are advanced technologies and machinery are being stationed all around cities and are utilised to collect and record data on every individual’s health information. All virtual and physical spaces have merged, with every public space, facility, form of transport, even homes and apartment complexes have mandatory scanners surrounding them.

 As a result, a new type of hierarchal system known as ‘Germ-Pod’ groups are formed, in order to systematically keep track of health statutes. These Germ-Pod groups are now a part of everyday living, and for the most part dictates what an individual can and cannot do, and where they can and cannot go, in a bid to maintain control of the virus. There are three main groups, the first being ‘THE IMMUNE’, made up of civilians who are able to afford the scarce, most effective but expensive and highly sought-after vaccine. The second group are known as ‘THE LOW RISK’ they are those who are uninfected but unlike the immune, are still at risk of contracting the disease as they do not have the same financial access to the vaccine required. However, they are still able to live comfortably and afford other forms of prevention. The third and final group are known as ‘THE UNTESTED’ which is made up of individuals who, by way of default due to existing ‘class’ and wealth status, are socially and financially disadvantaged, and therefore are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. As expected, there is an engrained unjust bias and prejudice towards those who are in the low risk group, and more predominantly towards those who are in the untested. 

Unfortunately, the people do not have a choice in which category they fall under, even if that means being apart from family and friends. This is because their health and wealth are aspects of their lives that are unchangeable. This new way of living bares familiarity to the current mandatory quarantine guidelines and restrictions that we face in 2020. If we think of the social and commercial disruption, as well as the surge in mental health impacts globally that these supposedly temporary restrictions have caused, it is almost frightening to think of a world where that may worsen and become permanent.

My speculative design proposal aims to target the two groups of Germ-Pods (the low risk and the untested) as they are the groups who need it the most. For the aesthetic of the concept, I have certainly taken inspiration from the restrictions and temporary solutions put in place by the Government during the 2020 pandemic. Whereby we’ve seen a surplus in sales with hand sanitizers and air fresheners for households and vehicles. As well as, become accustomed to the complementary sanitisation stations that are placed all around public areas and the implementation of mandatory face masks. The physical appearance of the final concept bares similarity to current air freshening dispensers.

The concept I’ve created is called the ‘ACSE-SMART DEVICE’ (pronounced ax-see) which stands for air-conditioned sanitising energy. This concept is intended to be integrated into everyday life as it will be used in public places and vehicles and will also be made available as a portable mini version for everyone to be able to purchase at a very low price. The product itself, sketched as the portable version, will consist of three main parts. The three main parts of the ACSE-SMART is the discreetly in-built camera and detail monitor, which will scan, record and show data of the areas they are placed in. Below that is the compartment that contains the sanitising fragrance-less fluid that has an anti-viral coating and is anti-bacterial. Lastly the spritzer, where this fluid will be processed and then released and dispensed as an invisible mist that is hardly noticeable. Individuals can customize their device to perform as they see fit, for example setting it on auto spray whenever they enter a premise that the device has detected as a ‘high risk germ zone’. It is also notable that the device is eye safe. The portable version will also come with a detachable latch and suction back, to be able to clip or stick it anywhere, for example in the car.