Re: Visit Palestine is a prototype interactive installation that blends mixed video and virtual environments. It is part of my Ph.D. research, which investigates how interactive installations and digital media can communicate complex political narratives experientially and spatially. This particular prototype addresses the ongoing occupation of Palestine.

I tested the prototype with a group of experts from related disciplines. Their interactions, feedback, and responses to a follow-up questionnaire were documented and analysed as part of the research process.

The installation consists of two main output channels: a virtual environment and a video projection. Interaction is enabled through a Leap Motion Controller, an infrared sensor configured to translate hand gestures into a first-person navigation interface inside the environment.

Built using the Unity game engine, the virtual environment serves as the main platform for exploration. It allows viewers to move through spatial and temporal zones while encountering fragments of information related to the occupation of Palestine. My design process focused on using low-cost, non-gaming controllers—such as the Leap Motion—as spatial navigation tools. While the Leap Motion is still experimental and primarily designed for use with VR headsets, repurposing it in this context for design activism, rather than gaming, is a novel approach that still requires refinement.

The second output channel comprises video projections. These videos are edited from publicly available footage—primarily sourced from people in Palestine or from various activist organisations. The video content offers a parallel stream of media that deepens the immersive experience.

The two channels are synchronised. Movements within the virtual environment trigger responses in the projection system. This is achieved through a signal transmitted over UDP (User Datagram Protocol) via a local router to a custom video player built using Processing.

This prototype is currently undergoing further development toward a public exhibition. If you are interested in supporting or collaborating on this project, please contact me directly at rusaila@lab-tajribi.com.

This research forms part of my doctoral work at Curtin University, Australia, and was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Hutchison (School of Design and Built Environment) and Prof. Erik Champion (School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry).

I gratefully acknowledge the technical support of Kevin Raxworthy and Amy Hickman, technical officers at Curtin University, and Saffiya Bazlamit, freelance animator. This doctoral research was supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.

You can read my full Ph.D. thesis here:
“Designing Activist Spatial Experiences Using Mixed-Media Virtual Environments.”