FireFlies Navigation

A nature-inspired approach to merging intuitive navigation with advanced technologies, offering a vision for navigating Tokyo’s bustling train stations in the near future.

FireFlies is a prototype exploring how natural metaphors, such as fireflies, can enhance navigation in crowded urban environments like Tokyo’s train stations. The project aimed to combine intuitive design with emerging technologies, such as wearable MR devices.

As a proof of concept, a low-fidelity prototype was tested during Kashiwa Campus Open Day. Participants navigated a mock train station, completing a task that required taking a ticket, walking to two gates, and inserting the ticket into the correct one. Their only guidance came from interactive fireflies projected onto the floor using a LIDAR sensor and projector.

Although tested in controlled lab conditions without the complexities of real-world environments, the prototype highlighted the potential of nature-inspired design to reduce stress and enhance user experience. It demonstrated the importance of simplicity and engagement in urban navigation systems and showed how nature-based elements can foster intuitive interactions. The reliance on familiar patterns and recognizable cues proved especially effective, enabling users to quickly understand and adapt to the system's behavior.

Design Team: 
Anna Burukhin Product designer
Dima Zaretski Industrial designer