Shanting

Narrative Description

This project is a nostalgic, interactive experience inspired by the personality quizzes from magazines like J-14 and Tiger Beat. Participants will start by taking Polaroid-style photos, receive phone calls on an old-style phone, and listen to music on an iPod. The quiz begins like a typical personality test but gradually becomes silly and random, highlighting how arbitrary those quizzes really were. The experience combines physical objects and digital elements to create a fun, playful journey of self-discovery that taps into the feeling of exploring identity through those classic quizzes.

Process Images

Process Reflection

What Was Easy?

While there wasn’t a single aspect that I would call "easy," there were elements that came more naturally to me. Coding, for instance, even though it required learning Arduino and p5.js, felt manageable. Despite the initial learning curve, I was able to translate my logic into code within a reasonable timeframe, making the process feel more intuitive as I progressed. Another area that flowed more smoothly was painting. Initially, I was uncertain about whether I should proceed with it, not knowing how the aesthetics would turn out. However, once I committed to it, the results exceeded my expectations and really tied the whole project together visually.

What Was Challenging?

Laser Cutting: Learning to laser cut was a significant challenge, particularly ensuring that the designs were correctly sized. My first attempts didn’t fit as intended, but through trial and error, I gradually improved. This is definitely a skill that benefits from starting early in the process, so you can troubleshoot and refine it over time.

Using the Teensy 4.1 for Keyboard Connection: Transitioning from Arduino to the Teensy 4.1 for keyboard inputs was trickier than I anticipated. The setup and functionality were different from what I was used to, which made the adjustment process more difficult.

Real-Time Camera Feed (p5.js): Incorporating a real-time camera feed using p5.js presented technical challenges, particularly in maintaining smooth performance and ensuring that it integrated seamlessly into the project. Balancing the feed’s responsiveness with the rest of the program was difficult.

What Did You Learn Through the Project?

Understanding Circuits: Working with circuits was a real eye-opener. I learned just how easily power can be transferred through connections, but also the importance of managing voltage properly to avoid damage or potential hazards.

Other Skills: I also gained experience with laser cutting, soldering, and working with the Arduino IDE. On a creative level, mixing analog elements like painting with digital components turned out to be both fun and visually striking. The end result gave me a sense of nostalgia, evoking elements of the Y2K aesthetic, where old technology and fashion were creatively combined.

What Might You Have Done Differently in Hindsight?

In hindsight, I would have liked to incorporate the camera and phone into the project more dynamically, as they currently feel more static. Additionally, soldering the buttons to function properly could have elevated the interactivity of the piece. Another thing I would change is using soft wires. The wires I chose made it difficult to close the lid properly, forcing me to tape them down—something I could have avoided with more flexible materials.

Code Submission