My group’s process:
As a group, we first decided which story we wanted to focus on, and then shared our ideas for an artifact found in that universe. We all agreed to use the excerpt from the novel The Plague by Yan Leisheng, and the artifact we decided to make was a helmet to use as protection from the plague, especially because the protagonist of the book was infected due to a tear in their suit. We created the helmet in a way where the front side is open with a piece of cardboard around the neck to help the helmet stay on one’s head. Initially, we wanted to cover the front side of the helmet and make it interactive in the way that the helmet can be used to signal when one is positive or negative of the Plague. The ideas we came up with to signal this change was to change the color of something on the helmet, such as sliding in different colored paper in the slits on the side, red for positive and black for negative. While trying to think of ideas to interactively show a change in positive and negative, one of us suggested using a long cardboard toilet paper roll and sliding that through the top of the helmet, since there was a lot of space inside the helmet that could be made use of. The roll allowed us to roll it from the outside to change from one side labeled as “positive” and the other as “negative.”
In relation to the research I did on interactive projects, our artifact was able to fit into the criteria of being interactive. My understanding of interaction is that the project should be influenced to change its behavior by external factors, which is what the cardboard roll and AI device (human) attached to it, was able to carry out by detecting and reacting to those that are positive and negative.
I believe the biggest success of the project was that it had an interactive component. We were able to physically change a component of the helmet with the use of the cardboard roll. Another success of the artifact was the way that it was decorated. We painted it red and black to signify the seriousness of the issue as it was a question of life and death, and hence would allow the artifact to be a reminder for those to take care. A failure of the artifact was how big we made the helmet. This failure was clear during our presentation when the helmet kept being dislocated on Becca’s head. A well functional helmet should be able to securely fit on one’s head, which is something we didn’t achieve and this is because we mainly focused on ensuring that our helmet could cover one’s head to provide protection against external threats. A failure of the performance was that we didn’t show the interactive part of the helmet. When the virus is detected, the AI is supposed to turn the cardboard roll from negative to positive, but this was not done during the performance.
As a group, we met a total of three times. The first time we met on zoom to discuss which story and what kind of artifact we were going to make. The second time we met in person to create the helmet out of cardboard. The third time we met was to create the storyline and practice acting it out a few times. We also created the tv box during the third time we met because that was when we had the idea of including a newscaster. Some of the things that I suggested was using different colors to signal a change in positive and negative. Another suggestion of mine was to stick the cardboard roll through one side of the helmet because it was long enough to rotate from the outside. I helped to paint the helmet, as well as contributed ideas to the storyline of the performance. I would say everyone contributed equally to thinking up ideas for the artifact and storyline, as well as when creating the artifact and acting out the roles. When we met, it was a comfortable environment to toss ideas around and build up on other people’s ideas. We also had a WeChat group where we coordinated times to meet up. Unfortunately, during one of our meetings, one of our members couldn’t come in person, which was not a problem as we communicated with them through video call and were able to get the job done.
Critical analysis of another group:
Another group’s project that I really liked was based on the excerpt from The Veldt by Ray Bradbury. The performance used a virtual reality set to transport someone to a wildlife desert safari for hunting. However, the VR experience took an unexpected turn when what was supposed to be an animal meat market, become a human meat market where animals were buying human parts instead. I believe this groups artifact is very relevant to the fictional story because it reflects the same type of immersive and interactive experience provided by the play room written about in the book. Although virtual reality devices are not necessarily unique, what was unique was the interpretation of the experience of the artifact. Hence, this artifact was able to imaginatively demonstrate the potential problems that could arise from this already existing technology. I really liked the design of the device because it was not too bulky and aesthetically pleasing to look at. The cardboard gun was a good addition to the artifact, to demonstrate it’s functions. The performance was really great because the surprising turn in the storyline was perfectly executed in the performance.
Script of my groups performance:
[Father watching the news]
Newscaster: Breaking news! Suddenly we have discovered that there is a new virus on the loose. It has been reported that there are 350 cases in the city and is rapidly spreading. Please wear the hazmat suits provided by the government so you don’t get infected by the virus. There have also been reports of these hazmat suits tearing and not protecting people from the virus. So, watch out for your families.
Father: Oh no, I got to do something about this! [starts to build the helmet]
Mother: Honey, what are you doing? You are making a mess. If you want to do something, go change the light bulbs.
Father: I am creating a helmet to protect us from the virus.
Mother: It’s not necessary, we have survived for this long, we don’t need extra protection.
Father: We do, trust me!
Child: Can we see how the helmet looks like?
Father: It’s not finished yet.
Child: Ok we will come back later to see it.
[after a few seconds]
Child: Can we see now, is it ready?
Father: Yes, this is the helmet [holds up helmet]. It comes with an AI device to detect if the people around you are positive or negative, and it will protect you. The design is family friendly!
Child: So is mom going to wear it?
Mother: Oh no!
Child: I don’t want to wear it.
Father: No, you have to wear it to school.
Child: They are going to make fun of me.
Father: I don’t care, you have to!
Child [wears helmet and goes to school]
Child: Hi friend!
Friend: Hi, what are you wearing?
Child: I am wearing a helmet that my dad made but I don’t know what it is. I guess it detects the virus.
Friend: It looks ugly.
Child: Yeah it does but I guess it works. What are you up to today? We are 13 years old so we have classes.
Friend: Yeah.
Child: So do you want to play the hand clap game?
Friend: Sure!
Child and Friend [before Child even touches her friends hands…]
AI device: Beep, Beep, Beep, Warning, Warning!
Child: Oh no, you have the virus.
Friend: What, no I don’t!
Child: Stay away from me! I am going home!
[At home, father watches the news]
Newscaster: Breaking news! A child has just died! So watch out, these suits are not protective and the virus is very deadly.
Child: Dad, guess what! My friend died today, he had the virus.
Father: I just saw it on the news!
Child: My helmet worked, it detected it and I ran back home.
Father: Oh, good. See, I told you all!