Interaction Lab| Hypersomniac 2000

Performance video:

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Script:

Plot:
[narrator] Dhruv: Hi, my name is Dhruv Vaishnav and I am a Senior at NYU Shanghai studying IMB, Economics, and Mandarin. Now, like most of us, my freshman year was really rough. I “studied really hard” that most days, I would walk into the Academic Building with my eyes half closed while moving like a zombie.

Over the past week, my group and I have been determined in finding a solution to this very common problem and after different iterations and prototypes, we are excited to release the Hypersomniac 2000. The product is simple, the Hypersomniac 2000 is stationed at the entrance of the Academic Building and will track students’ specific hormone levels and respond to your desires with a choice of stimulants… legal stimulants, of course. All you have to do is walk into the machine, scan your body and fingerprints, and using the data from your body, the Hypersomniac 2000 will provide you with either coffee, a violent shake, or a spray of water.

*Hypersomniac 2000 enters the stage* (Audrey and Shuyu)

Introducing the first iteration of our product. Let us show you how it works:

Let’s say that you come to campus and you’re really tired. Unfortunately, because you are tired, you are unable to focus during class and might not be able to make it through your day . So, to give you a boost of energy, the Hypersomniac 2000 will dispense coffee. Take a look:

*Person 1 enters the machine*

Person 1: I am super tired, I really hope I can make it through the day.

*Hypersomniac dispenses coffee*

Now, I am not a coffee lover because it tends to increase my anxiety and the time I spend in the restroom. So, based on my cortisol levels, I will be violently woken up. This is another feature of our product.

*Person 2 enters the machine*

Person 2: I am so tired and anxious.

*Hypersomniac 2000 screams and wakes up Person 2*

I am sure they are awake now. but, maybe you have an exam and coffee or a violent shake will not do the job, we have our last feature which is to make sure you are awake for your 8AM class. I know this is what I needed for my Chinese class freshman year. This option works by spraying your face with ice water, giving you a refreshing new look for the day.

Person 3: *Yawns* I am so nervous for my EAP oral exam. i hope I stay awake.

*Hypesomniac 2000 sprays Person 3 with water*

Voila, this is the power of the Hypersomniac 2000. All these students are products of the Hypersomniac 2000. But, there is another mode called Insomniac that ensures that you get your rest. Take a look.

Person 4: My roommate played video games all night and now I am so sleepy.

*Hypersomniac dispenses a Pillow and a blanket*

This is an extremely common problem at NYU Shanghai and we plan on aiding students on their academic and personal journey. Whether you want to sleep or you want to wake up, the Hypersomniac is there to help. Thank you.

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Self-reflection

For the successes, I think we did great on expressing how the artifact works and interact with human as well as related it to our real life. 

For the failures, we should think more about the theme behind the play, such as the problems of data which is related to data security.

Personally this artifact meet my definition of interaction because there are clear interact between people and Hypersomniac 2000.If I could add some changes, I would design more specific functions for it. Maybe different buttons refers to different functions, some may test your alcohol concentration, some may test your sleepy level and so on. 

For the cooperation of our brilliant team, Simon acted as facilitator to schedule meeting time and arrange our meetings. Avrail came up with amazing ideas including our final artifact. Dhruv done the script part which is humorous and natural, I like it a lot. Audrey, Julie and I contribute to the painting and making the artifact. Although I was absent due to my fever my groupmates welcome me warmly and concern me which moved me. Our rehearsal was fluent because we first actively listen to the narrator and if we find something wrong we will immediately pause to solve the problem together. Then after few pauses we can finish the play in one time. During the rehearsal, we communicate a lot and respect each other so we were high efficiency.

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A critical analysis and assessment of another group:

The Mirror

I like the idea that they use a mirror to interact with people although it is hard to define if it is an interaction artifact. The idea is ingenious because by the reflection of the mirror people actually see themselves in the corner so it delivered the thought that everyone is the victim of the happiness. Furthermore we can say everyone is the victim of the development. For the improvement, I would suggest them to use this specific artifact to design more intriguing plots to provoke thoughts of the audiences. And  I think the mirror should include more interacting functions, maybe it can say or provide messages.