About Terra

Millions of people live in areas where the probability of earthquakes is part of their daily life. About 90 % of the world’s earthquakes occur along the basin of the Pacific Ocean, the so-called ring of fire. A continuous series of tectonic plate movements trigger 100.000 perceptible earthquakes per year. About 100 of them cause damage.
Especially poor regions, where the infrastructure is not well prepared, are most vulnerable to these natural disasters.
In order to ensure user needs were at the center of our work, we interviewed several people from countries along the ring of fire, gathering insights about how they deal with earthquakes, their feelings and wishes in such cases, and what could help them manage these extreme situations. One common recurring issue among the different problems mentioned was that lack of information can cause constant subliminal insecurity, panic or in the worst case, fatal decisions. These findings are the foundation for our concept “Terra,” a device that increases awareness and reduces panic in countries vulnerable to earthquakes. Unfortunately many people living in these regions lack significant financial resources, so the second major goal with “Terra” was to make it available to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Leveraging sound design supported by light patterns, we created an impactful device whose physical shape is simply designed to blend into the user’s home. Thanks to “Terra,” valuable time can be saved in emergency situations, when every second counts. Additionally, to avoid unnecessary panic, “Terra” will also inform users in case of nondestructive incoming earthquakes. “Terra” is the companion that seamlessly blends into users’ homes, providing them with information, guidance and reassurance, enhancing their sense of security.