Plant Whisperer is a physical-digital interaction system that lets a real plant express how it feels through a friendly digital avatar. Using Arduino Uno and p5.js, the system monitors the plant’s environment, specifically light exposure and human interaction, and translates this data into visual and auditory feedback.
I want to promote awareness of nature and care through playful, intuitive technology. It reimagines how we perceive and respond to non-verbal living things by giving the plant a way to “talk back.”
Sensors and Components
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Photoresistor (Light Sensor): Detects ambient light around the plant.
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Capacitive Touch Sensor – DIY (using the CapacitiveSensor library): Detects when the user interacts with the plant.
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RGB LED: Shows the plant’s current emotional state in color.
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Piezo Buzzer: Plays tones based on mood or user interaction.
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Avatar Behavior (in p5.js)
The avatar is a stylized digital plant that changes facial expression, movement, background color, and plays ambient sounds based on the sensor input.
Inspiration
Mood Logic:
| Sensor Input | Mood | Visual in p5.js | LED Color | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Light | Happy | Smiling plant, upright | Green | Gentle chime |
| Dim Light | Sleepy | Drooping plant, closed eyes | Blue | Soft drone |
| Very Low Light | Sad | Frowning plant, faded color | Purple | Slow tone |
| Button Pressed | Excited | Eyes sparkle, leaf wiggle | Yellow flash | Upbeat trill |
Significance of the Project
My goal with this project is to encourage mindfulness, care, and emotional engagement with the environment. By giving a non-verbal living organism a digital voice, the system fosters empathy and attention.
This project is about more than just monitoring a plant, it’s about interaction. By gently blurring the line between organic life and digital expression, Plant Whisperer invites users to slow down, observe, and connect with their environment through technology.