“Opticonnect …”  David / Star / Kwan / Elston

The research project for our group is a prototype of a pair of smart glasses that is designed to provide augumented reality features,  real-time translation and a virtual assistant to help with users' daily task. Basically, as our scirpt wrote, it is aimed to empower individuals with the tools they need in order to thrive in a digital world.  As our project focuses on the topic of digital equity, the setting of our performance is in a time when the government gave out this kind of glasses to every family as a so-called courtesy. This act is to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, pointing towards the theme of the equity of technology. 

During the building process of the prototype,  we discussed about which material that we would need to use to build it. In the end, we decided to both try out the plastic board as well as cardboard.  The first prototype was made by me, which was entirely made out of plastic board. The connecting space of of the glasses is both  glued and assembled by cutting joints. However, the problem with this prototype was that it was very uncomfortable to where and having the risk of breaking apart when imposing too much force. Other prototypes faced similar problems, especially those that were made from cardboard. Finally, we decided to implement both of the material, by using plastic board as the main structure and cardboard as external decoration. The final upgrade was made on Star's prototype.

Script

Title: Shades of KWANorrow

Scene: A sleek, futuristic news studio. Two news reporters, ELSTON and DAVID, are seated at a high-tech desk. Behind them, a large screen displays the government logo and the new sunglasses, “OptiConnect.” A soft buzz of anticipation fills the air.

(ELSTON looks into the camera with enthusiasm.)

ELSTON
Good evening, everyone! Welcome to our special broadcast on the groundbreaking launch of the “OptiConnect” sunglasses. Today, we’re witnessing a revolutionary step toward eradicating digital inequality!

DAVID
That’s right, ELSTON! Starting next week, every household will receive a pair of these state-of-the-art sunglasses, courtesy of the government.

ELSTON
These innovative devices are designed to provide universal internet access, no matter where you are. Imagine connecting seamlessly while you’re on the go!

(The screen behind them switches to a close-up of the sunglasses, showcasing their sleek design.)

DAVID
They’re not just for connectivity, though. The OptiConnect glasses offer augmented reality features, real-time translation, and even a virtual assistant to help with your daily tasks.

ELSTON
Exactly! The goal is clear: to ensure that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, has the tools they need to thrive in our increasingly digital world.

(The camera shifts to DR. HENRY MILES, a middle-aged scientist in a lab coat, who smiles and waves.)

ELSTON
Joining us today is Dr. Star, the lead scientist from the development lab. DR. STAR, welcome!

DR. STAR
Thank you, ELSTON! It’s great to be here.

ELSTON
Can you tell us more about how these glasses work and the motivation behind this initiative?

DR. STAR
Absolutely! Our primary goal was to create a device that bridges the digital divide. With OptiConnect, we aimed to empower individuals with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world. These glasses feature built-in Wi-Fi, augmented reality, and even biometric security to keep your information safe.

(He gestures toward a nearby platform where a test subject, KWAN, stands nervously with the glasses in hand.)

ELSTON
And now, we have our brave test subject, KWAN! Let’s see how these glasses work in action.

(KWAN puts on the glasses, visibly excited.)

KWAN
Wow, these are incredible! I can see real-time updates about everything around me—news, social media, even wechat alerts!

ELSTON
That’s amazing! KWAN, why don’t you try using one of the voice commands? Show us how it works!

KWAN
Sure! Let’s see… “Play my favorite song!”

(Music starts playing through the glasses, and he .”
sways a little.)

KWAN
This is so cool! And I can even pull up my calendar and send messages—all without using my hands!

(Suddenly, the glasses emit a strange noise and begin to flicker. The studio atmosphere shifts.)

ELSTON
Uh, DR. STAR, is everything okay with the glasses?

DR. STAR
(a bit worried)
That’s… unusual. KWAN, how do they feel?

KWAN
(smiling nervously)
They’re getting a little hot, but I think it’s fine! I mean, tech is supposed to be warm, right?

(The glasses start to emit a high-pitched whine. Everyone’s expressions change to concern.)

DAVID
(seriously)
DR. STAR, this doesn’t look good.

ELSTON
(urgently)
KWAN, can you take them off if they’re too hot?

(Suddenly, the glasses explode in a flash of light and a loud bang. The studio fills with smoke.)

ELSTON
Oh my God! KWAN!

(As the smoke clears, KWAN is on the ground, and everyone is in a state of shock.)

DAVID
(frantic)
KWAN, are you okay? Can you hear me?

ELSTON
He’s dead!;

(Everyone shares a nervous laugh, the tension easing.)

DR. STAR
I apologize, everyone. It seems we have some adjustments to make before this technology hits the market.

ELSTON
(turning back to the camera)
Well, folks, while this was certainly an eventful demonstration, it highlights the importance of safety in tech development. We’ll keep you updated as more information comes in.

(As the studio fades to black, DAVID nods.)

DAVID
And remember, stay connected—but maybe not in that way!

[FADE OUT]

[END SCENE]

The story of our performance was given by David, who was the writer of the script. The main seeting of the story was in a news room, where two reporters (played by David and Elston) gave introduction about the newly launched smart glasses. After that, they invited the designer of the glasses (played by Star) to give a thorough introduction on the design goal and purpose. I played the role as the test subject of the glasses. In our script, there appeared to be a malfunction of the glasses, which ultimately causes a short circuit and make the glasses explode, killing myself and drew an end to the play. In our script, we demonstrated the functions and interactivity of our glasses through  giving introductions, setting scenarios and acting out the functions ourselves. Moreover, we showcased a scenario when the glasses received malfunction, which displayed the negative effects that the development of techonology may bring. In our story, the smart glasses were given to people as "courtesy from the government", making people wonder what are the pros and cons of actually achieving digital equity by the force of the government, thus reflecting the current monopoly of technology from the tech giant companies. After the performance, we headed into Q&A session, where we received feedbacks and suggestions. Next time, in order to make our research project better,  I believe we should focus and dig deeper into several specific problems instead of bringing each one up to the table with simple discussions.

One of the other project that I enjoy is "The Dinner", which showed a small table on which we put our phones during a meal. If anyone of the diners tries to get the phone, the table will split in four and ruin the meal. Diners can only recover the whole situation by putting their phones back on the table, and the table will then automatically recover to its previous state. The team uses lively performance to clearly demonstrate how the device works, and the plot of the performance was also quite interesting. It reminds me of the current days, when the usage of cell phones seem to block every one of us away from where we are supposed to be, not only in a dinner situation, but in many other scenarios as well. The creative prototype design is not only well-made, but also showcased a sense of warmth and placed emphasis on the value of connection, even in a future world.