Circa Solace is an ambient, interactive meeting table designed to
soften the emotional tension of traditional workplace meetings. Rooted
in the theme of the Future of Work, this project challenges the
dominance of verbal communication in professional settings by
introducing non-verbal, symbolic, and sensory interactions. Instead of
relying on constant speech and eye contact, participants express
thoughts and emotions through gentle gestures—pressing sensors, moving
hands, or responding to sound. These actions trigger visual responses:
pressing the table causes leaves to sway to signal ideas; tapping to
make the sun rotate in encouragement; reaching under the table
activates hidden sensors, causing flowers to bloom anonymously as
votes. When all participants press the consensus zone simultaneously,
the phrase Move Forward appears, confirming full-team agreement.
Emotional atmosphere is reflected in real time. If the room falls into
a long, uncomfortable silence, clouds begin to cluster overhead—gently
alerting the group to emotional stagnation. If voices become too loud
or heated, a Calm Down sign softly emerges from the center, prompting
collective de-escalation without assigning blame.
Circa Solace is novel in its emotional focus—it does not aim to
increase productivity through speed, but through comfort, presence,
and inclusion. Its value lies in transforming meetings from
high-pressure performances into collaborative, psychologically safe
spaces. By externalizing emotional signals through ambient feedback,
the table helps participants engage more openly while reducing social
anxiety and decision fatigue. As the future of work demands more
humane and adaptive collaboration, Circa Solace offers a meaningful,
sensor-based framework for emotionally aware teamwork.
