AquaSense

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of

face masks has increasingly shifted from merely serving as a

means of epidemic prevention to becoming tools of fashion

expression and social identity, resulting in a substantial rise in

their usage. However, this surge in demand presents a

significant environmental threat, particularly to marine

ecosystems, and there is insufficient awareness among people

regarding this negative impact. This study develops a wearable

interactive installation based on emotional design to enhance

public awareness and responsibility for marine protection on

the background of rising usage of face masks. By integrating

advanced hardware and digital media, the installation converts

different interactive behavior from the user into dynamic audiovisual

effects, fostering emotional engagement especially

empathy with the ocean species and making the consequences of

mask usage tangible and emotionally resonant, so that users

would reconsider their mask usage habits, and foster more

environmentally conscious behavior that supports marine

conservation. In this article, we first introduce the background

of the project, including the impact of face masks on marine

environments and the lacking of public awareness. Next, we

summarize research findings on emotional deign, how empathy

towards animals is developed and the strength of interactive

design that could benefit marine ecological education. We then

present the complete design process of the interactive

installation, covering both the hardware and audiovisual

components, and their interactive relationship. Finally, we

report on a practical testing of the installation, assessing its

educational effectiveness and potential for improvement. The

findings suggest that this installation is highly effective in

fostering empathy for marine life and encouraging more

environmentally responsible behavior among users. It could be

effectively applied in environments like aquariums and

museums to engage the public in marine protection efforts.