Human development has brought us to where we are today, but not without its consequences. One of the many repercussions of our actions, is a phenomenon called water hypoxia. Water hypoxia is defined as a detrimental decrease in the oxygen levels of a body of water. Areas with extreme hypoxia are commonly known as ‘dead zones’ due to colossal die-offs. Although the process can be of natural occurance, the severity in which hypoxia is affecting our waters today is a result of irresponsible human development. Dystopian Places invites users to attempt to breathe in a hypoxic area. The simulation is composed of two main parts: a mask and a virtual map.

The mask restricts the airflow the wearer is receiving. The reduction in air intake mimics the oxygen deprivation of a selected area on the map. The human wearing the mask will then understand what it would be like to be a fish living in an area with water hypoxia. Dystopian Places hopes to be a piece of the puzzle in moving towards a more environmentally conscious world. We are at point where action needs to be taken at a large scale, and sometimes, we need to feel to understand.