GROUP PROJECT | STEP4: Reflect
Over the past few weeks, we have worked together to invent, design, and prototype an interactive artifact that could exist in a science fiction universe, culminating in a 5-minute show that demonstrates the use of the artifact without the application of electronics and advanced technology. It is a really interesting activity that required us to unleash our creativity and imagination to brainstorm. Since two of our group members were not native Chinese speakers, we discussed the whole thing in English. It was a challenge for me, but I also improved my communication skills and made new friends!
Part 1: Work Log
1. Preparation
Our first meeting was on September 14, a typhoon day, using a WeChat call. We discuss the idea we want to present and finalize it. Our group’s spark of inspiration comes from William Gibson’s The Winter Market in which the cyborg character Lise’s dreams are recorded and edited into a top-selling compilation named Kings of Sleep. We wanted to create a machine that could record the dreams a person has during sleep and render an editable holographic video clip for users to watch and share – just like Casey helps Lise edit her dreams to make her famous in the story. Where our machine differs from the concept used in the story is that the user does not need to be physically harmed, but rather the brain activity is stimulated and recorded with electrical waves.
The next day we met again at the school to confirm details and assign work. I propose that we should consider the implications of this machine being made, such as helping people with PTSD or sleep problems to improve their sleep, to make it more meaningful. In addition, I point out that the assignment paper asks us the question: do you foresee any new problems arising from the existence of this invention? So we should also consider its negative effects and try to reflect them in the performance.
In order to be efficient, we were divided into two teams: one for scripting and the other for prototyping.
2. Scripting and prototyping
3. Rehearsal
Part 2: Reflection and Critique
I think our team has been very successful in both building prototypes and presenting ideas. We were the group that used the most props (of course, the cardboard with writing on it made up a large part) and the only group that thought about the problems that the machine might bring. Our performance was clear enough that the concept was largely understood by the audience.
The downside is that some very good ideas could not be implemented due to time and prop limitations. For example, we have thought about the privacy issues that machines might pose. If the system is hacked, someone with malicious intent could tamper with the user’s dreams while they are dreaming. But we couldn’t think of how to perform it clearly and had to consider other aspects in order to prevent confusion among viewers. Professor Marcela raised an interesting question: Is it possible to have multiple users using one device to dream the same dream at the same time? This could improve the interactivity of the machine and make it more of an entertainment. But that’s okay, we can consider improving these features in an updated version.
In recitation class, we also watched other groups’ performances. I think most of the group did a great job of innovating and presenting their ideas. Some of the prototypes looked amazing, such as the hemispherical communicator used to contact people in other worlds. One of them, the “Dream Linker”, has similar dream-related functions to our artifact. The difference is that their machine helps people with PTSD by allowing others to enter the patient’s dreams to eliminate the “scary” stuff, while our machine creates beautiful dreams for people through electrical stimulation.
Our machines are much more versatile, while theirs show the warmth of humanity. But at the same time, they should also take into account the problem of patients leaving the clinic and still not being able to get rid of their nightmares. Attention should also be paid to the screening mechanism for volunteers who help with treatment. Patients should be treated by more professionally educated trainees.