Posted on Wednesday, February 4th, 2015 by Will Hagle
Echoes of Tsunami pays tribute to the victims of the tsunami that hit Southern and Southeast Asia on December 26th, 2004.
Echoes of Tsunami is an interactive documentary tribute to the victims of the 2004 tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia. The site uses a series of interactive features to create a fully immersive experience, displaying moving images of affected nations like Indonesia and Sri Lanka along with accompanying text and narration . The site uses your computer’s camera, for instance, when the narrator instructs you to “close your eyes” and remember and relive the memory. There’s then an audio-only portion of the documentary, which ends and starts over from the beginning if you open your eyes. It’s a slightly unnerving, accurate use of technology, but it ultimately makes for a better experience.
Echoes of Tsunami takes you through these experiences of the tsunami in four different places: Lampulo port, Banda Aceh, Krueng Raba, Lhoknga, Aceh Market, Banda Aceh and Pulau Bunta, Off Aceh. Each offers a different perspective on the same natural disaster, along with additional information about the particular affected location. The online experience, which was created by international humanitarian organization Action Contre la Faim / Action Against Hunger, serves the important purpose of honoring the victims of the tsunami by forcing viewers to reflect upon the events that occurred. The ACF also features additional information about the tsunami’s history that shows how they’ve been involved in humanitarian efforts in the region.