Creating a personal record of lockdown
Over the past two months, we’ve been thinking about what we can offer that supports people in isolation and celebrates our love of combining digital technology with physical experiences.
Our previous work with the Mass Observation Archive shows that there is value in documenting these times as a cultural phenomenon. Challenging as they might be, mundane and blurry as they might seem, humanity will look back on this pandemic and want to know the details of how we coped.
This has got us wondering, what are the treasures that you want to share from this strange time? What sweet moments do you wish you could package up and send to your distant loved ones, or preserve for the grandchildren of generations yet to come? And more to the point, have you figured out a neat and accessible way to do this?
With our Tangible Memories app, it’s really easy to take photos, sound recordings and text and put them all together to create the pages of your very own beautiful book, capturing your lockdown memories.
When we designed the Tangible Memories app and interactive book-making service, it was with older people and intergenerational groups in mind. This means it’s really easy to work with, guiding you through each step so you can choose exactly how you want your book to look and sound. The app includes elegant shell illustrations which can be scanned to play the audio recordings straight from the pages of your printed book, so you can hear the sounds of birdsong on a walk, of children laughing as they play or the cheers echoing along the streets during Thursdays ‘clap for carers’. You can record an audible commentary on these days and weeks, give background information about why there are splodgy rainbow drawings in windows all over town, or recall a precious interaction with neighbours helping each other out.
The Tangible Memories app is free to download, and the books can be ordered in any quantity you like, so you can create a one-of-a-kind record for yourself, or several copies to be posted out to the loved ones that you’ve not been able to spend time with recently. At the moment, it’s available for iPad, and we are currently developing a version for Android and for phones.
Tangible Memories books are also a great way to honour a person’s life or to document a project that’s been dear to your heart throughout this strange time in lockdown.
Here’s how we have been using it:
I’ve been recording our lockdown by making a tangible memories book. If I do an activity with the kids, I make a recording to say what we’ve done - it’s really nice to hear their voices! Then I take a picture, add a quick description and that’s it. It’s really easy to use and it’s nice to know we will have a record of this strange, simple time for the future. I’m going to get copies for the grandparents too as the kids are changing so much during this time apart.
- Lucy
I have quite a few old paintings in our flat that my grandfather painted. I’ve always wondered what the stories are behind them and so I have been recording my Dad (over Zoom) as he describes when and where they were painted and what my grandfather was hoping to express.
- Barney
At the end of each day, I check on the plants, give them some water and catch up with my neighbours. It’s lovely that we are not only growing food, but swapping seeds and supporting each other as well. The pictures and sound recordings aren’t just a gardening journal, they’re a testament to this brilliant community attempt at sustainable living.
- Debs
We'd love to hear about your projects and your own personal stories of life in lockdown. To help get started we’ve made a list of possible book titles.. You choose what goes inside!
One Walk a Day - a record of things seen and heard during your daily exercise
Homeschooling Mayhem - the tears, the creations and a little bit of laughter
The New Normal - interactive diary entries
Lockdown Quiz Book - a round up of the best online quiz questions with audible answers
Lockdown Cookbook - Feeding the family without flour
Gifts for Grandparents - Sending love-filled stories in the post
In Memoriam - preserving the photos and memories of a departed loved one
Growing Food - steps towards self-sufficiency and growing seasonal veg.
Let us know what you create!
Find out more: www.standandstare.com/tangible-memories-app
Download on iPad from the Apple App store
apps.apple.com/gb/app/tangible-memories-story-creator/id1006573343
Android and phone versions available soon