The invention that my team and I came up with was a memory DVR set that is worn as like a VR but instead records a memory and can play it back when the user puts it on and uses the hand set (glove and gauntlet) to control the system and choose which memory it replays. We came up with this when inspired by “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury which has a room that can change depending on the person. During our thought process, at first, we wanted to create a helmet for the story “The Plague” by Yan Leishang and would take the temperature of the user and if they are contaminated, they would be automatically contained. We also thought about an invention that would scan the surroundings and replicated it with them same sensory feelings but thought that those ideas have already been done in the past. Instead we improved on that idea and instead, the person would be sleeping and be able to dream about the memory they wish to see through using the device. Some problems with the device would be that it would be overused and used as an escape to reality but I feel that since its a device that people use when they’re sleeping, that puts a statue of limitation on it so that it wouldn’t be overuse as much unless people choose to sleep forever. When designing the device, we first gathered whatever materials we had at hand and then came up with what we could do with it such as using the refractive material as the “lens” and frame to make the headset look cooler. One of the things we struggled with was the glove as at first we didn’t know how to make it but when we saw that we had bubble wrap, we came up with the idea to make an actual glove instead of connecting the joint pieces with string that we didn’t have. Some ways we split up the work, since we weren’t all free at the same time, is that me and Denny met up first to make the headset and then MJ and Alyssa met up afterwards to make the glove and gauntlet. As for coming up with the invention and play, we all met up and discussed on what we should do for that part of the project. Overall, I think the process of making our invention went smoothly and I think our group worked well in communicating with each other which was a huge success on our part.
The performance I found interesting was with the plague and the invention was a helmet that creates a space that keeps the person checking everyones temperature protecting from contamination. I think that that is a good idea and important to any air-borne disease and I liked how their performance had many props and inventions that kept the story going. However, I think my favorite invention would be the television that displayed options for dreams that a person could choose after they’re petrified. I think this was a very smart idea since the people aren’t technically dead and instead could live their life in their preferred dream state until a cure is found. Overall, I found the skit very clear and help my understanding of their inventions even more.
We didn’t really have a script but more of a general idea of what to say and then repeat the first scene all over again to create that same “memory”.
Below is a link to all of photos and videos of our invention process, props we used and performance.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1acEzEmB2Rfj99-MR4x7LnIbsTGJlVRnj