n≠1 – 2024

n≠1 is an interactive VR installation in which users can speak to a conversational digital avatar of a deceased person. The installation was developed at HTW Berlin as part of the Communication Design degree programme under the supervision of Prof. Andreas Ingerl and Prof. Pablo Dornhege.

The project operates within two thematic areas: on the one hand, it explores whether digital avatars can support the grieving process. On the other hand, n≠1 investigates the potential of this technology for conveying history – by bringing historical figures to life as interactive avatars. Unlike commercial providers, n≠1 is conceived as an artistic-scientific investigation that deliberately poses critical questions: What are the ethical boundaries of digital cloning? Can AI tools be used therapeutically? And how can history be brought to life anew through immersive encounters?