In a world often hostile to vulnerability, M.A.R.A. insists on interdependence, reminding us that technology, if carefully designed, can be a companion rather than a commodity, a way to befriend ourselves, our environments and the more-than-human worlds in which we navigate.
M.A.R.A. (Mental Aid Relaxation Assistant) is a kinship device, a portal for reconnecting body, mind, and digital cosmos. Born out of the intricate struggles of living with anxiety, M.A.R.A. offers a multi-sensory alliance for navigating the turbulent terrains of mental health. A kind of companion for the self, it combines touch, sight and hearing to cultivate a refuge of calm amidst the chaos.
At its core, M.A.R.A. is a carefully crafted controller, a prosthetic extension of touch designed to ground you in the present. Its silicone textures and buttons are not merely functional but relational, inviting your fingers into a soothing choreography of movement and stillness. It is a fidget toy for the age of entanglement: an artifact that listens to the nervous system and connects to the vast geometries of the digital universe.
Through the controller, we navigate dynamic fractals – endlessly unfolding patterns that echo the structures of nature and the cosmos. These visual relatives are not inert objects but vibrant companions, pulling you into their rhythmic and generative dance. An invitation to co-create moments of stillness and wonder, helping the anxious mind tune into a slower, more expansive rhythm. These subtle frequencies act as guides, shifting brainwaves toward a state of balance.
M.A.R.A. is portable parenting in action-a pocket-sized ally that travels with you, ready to co-compose moments of peace whether in a crowded subway or an isolating office. It doesn’t just manage anxiety; it reimagines how we inhabit and relate to our emotional ecosystems.