Riley’s Documentation Blog

Maintaining a Sustainable Life?

Riley Susser, Professor Margaret Minsky, Interaction Lab Spring 2023

 

1. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

In my personal definition of interaction I wanted to create a project whose output would reflect the user’s unique input and how they interact with the project. I remember researching Lauren Lee McCarthy & Kyle McDonald’s ‘Unlearning Language’, which checks the same boxes: each user’s interaction with the project is unique and authentic to them. I also wanted to convey a meaningful message through my project rather than just a game, for example. 

 

1. CONCEPT AND DESIGN

While brainstorming our full design for this project we struggled at first with how exactly the user was going to interact with the project. The concept and outcome was clear, however the physical interaction between the user and the project was not. The first idea we landed on to alter the speed of the windmill was using a scale. We planned on creating some type of basket or alternative holder that with greater weight would slow the speed of the windmill. However, we wanted a more visually interactive approach, for this, we ultimately decided on the pressure sensor with the open box we created. By inserting the cards we thought the directness of the interaction was better conveyed. 

 

III. FABRICATION AND PRODUCTION

For the sake of our project being as self-explanatory as possible, before user testing we had no writing in our project besides the question prompts that formed part of the interaction. During user testing however, some of the most significant feedback we received was the lack of a message being conveyed. On the one hand, we had realized that because of the specificity of the message of our project, we inevitably were going to have to incorporate a short message of the meaning of the interaction. More specifically, some of the feedback we received was that ‘nothing happened’ if a user did not insert enough cards into the box. However, this was in fact part of the design. The message we wanted to convey was how much someone’s daily actions negatively affect the wellbeing of the environment. By someone not committing these harmful actions however, they are not positively impacting the environment, they are simply creating a net zero effect. For this reason the people who did not insert any cards, or only one or two cards, did not have an impact on the windmill’s speed, because likewise they do not leave an impact on the environment, negative or positive. In regards to design, the user testing process made us realize we wanted to create a more organized structured interaction. Some people in user testing placed the cards in the wrong end of the box, others placed the cards into the box all at once upon finishing reading the questions rather than progressively interesting them. For the final presentation we designed the project so that the instructions were much clearer by placing each piece of the project in certain places, separating each question, and illustrating visually how the box and cards were meant to be interacted with.

 

Specific personal contributions I made include the original project idea, the idea of using the flex sensor, creating the question prompts, and sorting out the instructions for how the user was going to specifically interact with the project. In terms of constructing the project, e.g. the windmill, the card holding box, etc.. Shiru and I equally worked together.

 

*Initial principle idea of the project

 

int motorPin = 9;

const int flexpin = A0;

int motorSpeed;

 

void setup() {

  pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT);

  Serial.begin(9600);

}

 

void loop() {

  

  int flexposition;

  flexposition = analogRead(flexpin);  // Input value from the analog pin.

  Serial.println(flexposition);

  motorSpeed = map(flexposition, 950,750,0,550); //

  Serial.print(“motor: “);

  Serial.println(motorSpeed);

  motorSpeed = constrain(motorSpeed, 0, 255);

  analogWrite(9,motorSpeed);

 

  

}

 

1. CONCLUSIONS

We set out to create an interactive windmill whose speed demonstrated how sustainable someone’s daily habits are. Looking at our final product I feel that we have successfully constructed the project we had envisioned. As stated above, the message we wanted to convey was purely how much someone negatively impacts the environment. Even in the final presentation testing the users seemed a bit disappointed almost when ‘nothing happened’ as they did not insert enough cards for the windmill to slow down.  However, as the designer of the project, this was precisely the design: to demonstrate how significant, or nonsignificant someone’s environmental footprint is. If someone’s footprint is not significant, no effect will be had. Perhaps, we could have made this message even clearer though. From this project I have learned to appreciate user testing. Prior I had never gone through a user testing process, yet experiencing my product’s initial users’ interaction with the project served as a tool to be the project in ways that we wouldn’t have come to do otherwise Secondly, I am also taking away finding the balance of leaving just enough instruction for the user without over explaining.

Creation of Our Artifact

Our group chose to create an artifact in response to the fictitious world designed in Yan Leisheng’s story The Plague. At first, we discussed designing a preventative artifact towards the virus spreading throughout the fictional world. This artifact would be designed to be worn by the user in some way, and be able to detect if the virus is close by. Nonetheless, we wanted to produce a more avant, interactive artifact. We designed the artifact that we did with the aim to fit the story as best as possible. In Yan Leisheng’s dystopian apocalyptic world, killing was inevitable in order to survive. That said, though killing infected humans provides an outlet for humanity to continue, it is evident that it is far from a perfect solution. Our group wanted to curate an artifact that would ease the difficult decisions humans in this world would be confronted with, and to help cope with the repercussions of difficult yet necessary actions. For this, we ultimately designed a hamlet that, when used, would turn off someone’s emotions to be able to make decisions in an objective manner.

 

In researching the term interaction, I concluded that an important factor of the artifact that we were going to create had to provide a unique experience to each user based on their situation. In my personal definition of interaction, I had also previously expressed in my research that interaction cannot be forced, otherwise there would lack authenticity of the experience with the artifact, another key component. With the prototype our group generated, we successfully designed an interactive product that with proper misuse, as seen in our performance, could lead to great failure. When first used in the performance, the artifact successfully met its designated goal; the helmet made it easier for my (Riley’s) character to deal with the heavy immediate psychological effects of having killed someone. However, when used in a coercive manner on Angela without her consent of interacting with the artifact, complications arose.

 

We designed the base of the helmet by using cardboard and wrapping it in aluminum foil. When the initial helmet was constructed we tested that it fit on Angela, but not myself. Later we realized the helmet we had built was too small for me to wear, and had to make the circumference larger. We placed wires around the helmet with two connecting down to the heart to demonstrate that the artifact’s purpose was to have an emotional effect on the brain. Unfortunately, in some places we perhaps did not apply as much hot glue that was necessary as the wires attaching the helmet to the chip meant to be placed over the heart broke off. Nonetheless, we were still able to successfully deliver the perforamnce As a group, we all worked to cut, shape, and hot glue the helmet together. Throughout the constructing process, we discussed over and over the plot of our performance to ensure cohesiveness and clarity as Shane typed out the formal script.

 

Critique of Another Group

The group that performed with the personal robots designed for The Plague as well had a very creative and interactive approach. Not only did I find their artifact truly interactive, but it also provided a legitimate solution for living with the virus. The robots’ actions were completely dependent on the owners decisions, thus providing an authentically unique experience to each of the users. I thought it was interesting yet innovative that the group chose a responsive approach rather than a preventative approach to finding a solution to saving humanity during the spread of a virus. 

 

Script

A: Angel

B: Angela (Sister) (Leader)

C: Bruce

D: Riley (Brother)

 

Background: In a zombie apocalypse world, a team of four have been working together to survive. They are Angel, a former scientist, Angela, who is their designated leader, Bruce, a great survivalist, and Riley, Angela’s brother.

 

Storyline summary: Angel feels that something bad is going to happen, so she created a helmet that shuts off emotions. One day, when Bruce and Riley come back from looting, they suspect Bruce has been infected. Riley has to kill Bruce, he regretfully goes through with it and feels regret, so Angel introduces the helmet to rid him of that emotion. Later, because the blood of Bruce split on Riley, Riley was also infected, Angel and Angela has to kill Riley, but Angela resist since he was her brother. Angel sneaked in one night, takes off the helmet from Riley then puts it on Angela, Angela killed Riley. Angel removes the helmet from Angela, under emotional pressure Angela fight with Angel, both died.

 

Actor Angel and Angela, enters the scene.

 

A: Surviving gets harder these days, infections are spreading wider and wider, i don’t know how long we can pull this off. 

B: Well, look at this from a brighter side, we’re still alive aren’t we? 

A: I know I know, positive attitude right? But I just feel that, something isn’t right, I feel suffocated? bad things are coming, that kind of feeling.

B: ok now, this isn’t what I want to hear that right now. 

 

Actor Bruce and Riley enters the scene, returned from today’s loot. 

 

B: and look, it’s C and D that are coming, they are not “bad things”, get it together man.

A: Okay, my bad, sorry for spreading this negativity.

D: what’s wrong? What have we missed?

C: I heard bad things, what, someone lost hope? (‘cough’)

A: Noooo I was just…

B: Its nothing, no worries, anyway, any good things you have found today?

 

Bruce is infected, while talking with others, Bruce shows symptoms.

 

C: not much, just some food, and some, well, stuff (takes out some knives)

A: damn, where’d you get those?

D: we- we fought with somebody camping on the other side.

B: you guys killed … that somebody?

C: Come on now, is that empathy that I am seeing? Towards someone we don’t even know? Someone who was infected?(starts scratching himself when talking)

D: I must say, the guy is an asshole, but…

C: didn’t we tell him we came with no intention to hurt him? WE TOLD HIM, come on, we told him we were just walking by, and if he would lower his damn gun, none of us would be in any discomfort, damn what is with the stupid weather these days, I feel so uncomfortable(scratching himself again). 

D: ye but…

B: sigh…anyway, great to have you guys back safe, and glad that we have things to eat for another day, well, maybe two.

A: yeah yeah.

 

Angel looks at Bruce, sensing that Bruce may be infected.

 

C: i feel a bit tired, i’m just going to sleep now.

 

Bruce went to sleep, and Angel pulls Angela and Riley away.

 

A: I…I feel a bit nervous, did you guys see? 

D: see what?

B: …you mean the cough? No way, it’s just a throat clearing.

A: but he scratching himself so many times, don’t act like you guys didn’t see that.

D: …I know… I know, I, I couldn’t do it , I just can’t.

B: guess it is that time, you have to do it.

D: …I see.

 

D kills C while he is asleep, blood split on D, none have noticed.

 

D feels really upset, and he cries.

D: I am sorry bro, I am so sorry…

C: You, you…ehhhh

D: forgive me… I am so sorry, I, I don’t know… I am sorry…

 

A takes out the helmet.

A: it is time for this then… I have been working on this since I had that stupid feeling… It is now time to use this.

 

A puts the helmet on D, D turns emotionless.

 

D later was infected as well because of the blood, 

B: I…I don’t know, it could just be that he was bitten by a mosquito or something, there are alot of explanations. 

A: …I don’t see you being this hesitant to speak before…I assume that is because you saw something about your brother, and you didn’t tell us?

B: No, no, it’s nothing, my brother is… he is perfectly fine. 

 

Although B couldn’t do it, A can’t accept the fact that a walking biohazard carrier will stay among them. One night, when B and D are both sleeping, A takes off the helmet from D and puts it on B, and tells her that D must died because of the infection.

 

B wakes up from dream, killed D, and A takes off the helmet from B.

 

B feels angry and upset, cries why A does that, they should all come to an agreement before using this.

 

B: …What, what have I done?

A: it is for the good cause.

B: You… you…what the hell, you can just do that, you can’t just sneak in like this and put that on me without anyone’s consent?!

A: wake up, leader, we have to do this, this is for us to survive.

B: No, no it is not, it is for you to survive, you bastard, you just don’t want to get your hands dirty.

 

A and B had a fight, they both died by stabbing each other.

 

Technologies can make us go through difficult decisions, but it will also cause troubles.