Group Research Project
During our first meeting for this project, we looked at each of our assignments on fictional stories, but all of our ideas were fictional and couldn’t exist in reality. I originally came up with the idea to make a cleaning machine; however, we came to the conclusion that this was not interactive enough, and it wasn’t original. After discussing, we decided to make something that would fit the plague story, so we came up with a robot that could help prevent the spread of the infection.
My group created a robot that helps to fulfill the task of people infected by the plague. The robot is able to detect the silicon level in a human’s body which tells the robot what stage of the virus the human is in. This allows a robot to focus on certain body movements that the human is restricted to, so it can do what the human requests through their actions.
This project that our group invented is a representation of what I defined as interaction. My definition was “I believe interaction is the artist creating a piece of work that the audience can use or interact with to express their thoughts and ideas.” this robot cannot operate without a human. A human’s movement directly controls the robot’s actions. For example, in stage 2, Jessie’s legs were paralyzed. She asked the robot to bring her napkins from the table. However, the robot did not respond. She began pointing to the table, and the robot identified her hand movement. After Jessie‘s action, the robot proposed two options: either bring her the napkins or bring her to the napkins. The robot then instructs her to put up one finger for one option or two fingers for the other option.
Sketch Details
- The antenna on the helmet helps the robot find infected people.
- The glasses help the robot see where it is going.
- The left and right hands allow the robot to scan the person for silicon level and transport the person.
- Other parts are included to make a fully functional robot.
In the building process, I was in charge of making the armor for the thighs and calves. I measured each piece of cardboard to fit Smile’s thighs and calves and a hot glued them together.
Script:
Roles:
Robot: Smile
1st stage: free to move – Sarah
2nd stage: only upper body can move – Jessie
3rd stage: only head – Chaoyue
4th stage: only eyes – Andy
5th stage: completely solidified – Jason
Stage1
Robot: diii….Virus infection detected. Target Identified. bibi..silicon Percentage:5%. body status:free to move. No service needed.
1st: freestyle* (Oh my God! I can’t believe…)
Stage2
Robot: diii…Virus infection detected. Target Identified. bibi..silicon percentage:30% . body status: legs paralyzed. What can I do for you?
2nd: Give me the tissue! Give me the tissue! (shout and command verbally then lastly point to a tissue)
Robot: Bii
(receive instruction)
Robot: You want the tissue. Option 1- bring you the object; Option 2: bring you to the object
2nd: (show 1 with finger)
Robot: Roger! (Hand 2nd the tissue) Mission completed.
Stage3
Robot: diii… Virus infection detected. Target Identified. bibi..silicon percentage:70%, body status: paralyzed from shoulder down. What can I do for you?
3rd: command verbally then turn your head and look at the window
Robot: (Action Identified) Would you like to be transported to the window?
Yes, nod your head. No, shake your head.
3rd: nod yes
Robot: (transport 3rd to the window) Roger. Mission Completed.
Stage 4
Robot: Dii…virus infection detected. Target Identified. Bibi..silicon percentage:98%, body status: only eyes can move. What can I do for you?
4nd: (Move eyes to the left for 10 sec)
Robot: Eyes looking toward left more than 10 seconds. Would you like to be transported to the left? Yes- blink once, no- blink twice.
4nd: blinks once
Robot: Roger. Mission Completed.
Stage 5
Robot: Dii. Virus infection detected. Target Identified. Bibibibibibi. body status: completely solidified. (Grabs the 5th)
5th: (grabbed by the robot and moves to the assigned place.)
Robot: Transferring to the petrifaction community. Mission Completed. See you.
THE END.
More Pictures
We all worked together to make the robot. Jason and Andy make the headpiece. Sarah and Smile made the glasses. Jessie made the armor for the arms. I made the armor for the legs. We all worked together to write the script and rehearsed 3 times. The communication within the team was great. We all have busy schedules, so we discussed everything we would be building on Zoom and then set up a time to build the robot at once.
Conclusion
I believe our invention was successful because it is very interactive and fits with the plague story very well. Something I would think about more is how to make this accessible to more people. A concern was raised that this invention would be too expensive for the regular human being to afford. So I think we could think more about how to make a more affordable “robot” that can perform the same functions.
Analysis of Group 1
This group presented the arm piece that holds the database to all the people, and it can scan people to know if they have been infected by the plague. This is relevant to the fictional story in the case that it helps identify people that are infected by the plague. However, I am not sure if it kills the people infected on the spot or takes them away and kills them.
This armpiece they have created is very unique and only made of the materials allowed, so I think it meets the criteria of the assignment. The design is great because it has many small details that you can see close up. The skit that they perform also allowed me to understand the purpose of their invention.
Group 1’s project was good overall, but I would suggest that they find ways to make it more interactive. Right now the armpiece’s functions are fully due to imaginative ideas, meaning the object is not detecting a human’s movement, instead it is some imaginative technology.