Experiencing the World Through Horse Vision
Ulster University researcher and designer Alan Hook has unveiled Equine Eyes, an innovative horse-shaped headset known as this device that simulates the equine visual experience. This wearable forms part of his wider research into interspecies design, questioning how environments might be tailored with other animals in mind. The headset’s exaggerated white muzzle and upright ears create a striking visage, with small cameras mimicking a horse’s eyes and relaying live video through a virtual reality display.
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Expansive Vision from the Equine Eyes Headset
Horses have a much wider field of vision than humans due to the positioning of their eyes. Hook’s simulation system employs two 180-degree cameras, crafting an approximately 350-degree panoramic experience for the wearer. This setup, coupled with adjustments for dichromatic color perception, allows users a glimpse into a horse’s perspective, emphasizing blues and yellows. Participants described the experience as akin to “taking your eyes out and sticking them on the sides of your head.”
The Evolution of Equine Eyes
Developed by Alan Hook since 2017, Equine Eyes started with basic webcams and an Oculus Rift headset. Early iterations of the device produced grainy images, but an experiential shift came with the addition of a horse-head cutout, which deepened the immersive experience. The design later evolved into the sleek, sculptural mask used today, reinforcing the simulation’s impact through physical engagement.
An Interspecies Design Toolkit Emerges
Hook extends his vision with the Interspecies Design Toolkit, a speculative proposal developed with Imagination Lancaster and Ulster University. Inspired by Microsoft’s Inclusive Design Toolkit, it invites designers to consider the sensory worlds of nonhuman animals. The headset utilizes vr technology to enhance how we understand these worlds. Downloadable resources encourage creative workshops that examine barriers and explore alternative design paths based on animal behaviors and interactions.
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From Research to Public Engagement
Equine Eyes has transitioned from research to public exhibition, featuring in prominent shows like the Superpower Design exhibition in Belgium in 2024. The project found an ideal setting at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, in July 2026, captivating visitors who interact with horses. Through these displays, Hook aims to spark reflection on how distinct species experience their environments through the virtual reality design.
Equine Eyes and the accompanying Interspecies Design Toolkit broaden the dialogue about human-animal interactions, challenging designers to rethink environments from a non-human perspective. This initiative, highlighted in designboom’s collaboration with INDX|GLOBAL, delves into the intersections of architecture, design, and emerging technologies, promoting a posthuman approach to creative expression. The influence of the simulation continues to grow in this evolving field.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of the Equine Eyes headset?
The Equine Eyes headset is designed to simulate the equine visual experience, allowing humans to perceive the world through a horse’s perspective. It forms part of research into interspecies design, questioning how environments might be tailored with other animals in mind.
How does the Equine Eyes headset create a horse vision experience?
The headset uses two 180-degree cameras to craft an approximately 350-degree panoramic experience, along with adjustments for dichromatic color perception, emphasizing blues and yellows. This setup relays live video through a virtual reality display, providing a glimpse into a horse’s perspective.
What is the Interspecies Design Toolkit?
The Interspecies Design Toolkit is a speculative proposal developed with Imagination Lancaster and Ulster University, inspired by Microsoft’s Inclusive Design Toolkit. It invites designers to consider the sensory worlds of nonhuman animals, using VR technology to enhance understanding of these worlds.
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