Recently, a team of UBC students at EMLx designed, developed and launched Forestʌr, a multifaceted app that integrates Augmented Reality (AR) and interactive guidance to offer a personalized forest bathing experience, addressing key barriers such as location, time, and financial constraints.
Forest bathing, also called shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves immersing yourself in nature, forests and other environmental atmospheres, to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and promote a deeper connection with the natural environment.
Informed by rigorous research on the health-promoting effects of forest bathing, the app begins with the idea of helping undergraduate students counter urban stress and nature disconnection. In just a few months, Forestʌr was developed by the EMLx student team.
Forestʌr aims to amplify the inherent health benefits of forest bathing by making the practice more accessible to a wider audience. To deliver a highly individualized forest immersion experience, participants can select specific trails, set health-oriented objectives, and choose between meditative or educational guidance. This app minimizes digital distractions by encouraging multisensory exploration and allows participants to fine-tune their level of interaction, educational insight, and sensory focus.
Currently taking place in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, the app plans for future expansion to various natural and indoor environments.
If you’re interested in developing your own project idea involving emerging technology EML team welcome pitches for projects like this twice yearly. Learn more about projects like Forestʌr and how to get involved on our EMLx page.
Project Leads: Tara Brown, Dr. John Innes
Project Team Members: Julien Roy, Yebin Cho, Sadie Lee, Zhanerke (Janner) Zhumash, Annika Coutinho