Group Project: Tale of the Visionaries

Emotionlink

In today’s digital age, many people are experiencing heightened feelings of loneliness. Often, individuals struggle to express their emotions openly, desiring instead for others to recognize and connect with their feelings without needing to explicitly show them. A meaningful way to address this is by creating tools or products that help match people based on their emotional state, either pairing them with those experiencing similar emotions or with individuals who can offer support based on their emotional needs.

success

(By crafting a device that symbolizes emotions through subtle design choices—like the gradient-colored screen and woven emotional strings—we aimed to provide a way for people to communicate their emotional states non-verbally. This approach allows individuals to connect without the pressure of having to explicitly express their feelings, helping them to be understood through visual cues.)

From a technical perspective, we succeeded in using simple materials like cardboard, foam board, and colored strings to create a product that is both functional and symbolic. The gradients on the display reflect the complexity of emotions, while the strings act as visual representations of the wearer’s current emotional state. These elements together make the device intuitive to use, providing a gentle means of communication.
Our performance during the presentation further emphasized this, as I demonstrated the device's function by wearing a necklace that symbolized different emotions. The improvisational performance allowed us to showcase how seamlessly the product could be integrated into daily life, enhancing its impact. The success of this project can be measured by how effectively it bridges emotional gaps, fostering connections between individuals in a subtle yet powerful way.

failure

We originally intended to design the bracelet in a similar watchband style that could be adjusted in length, but we had to abandon the idea because the cardboard was too thick.
We originally intended to design the adjustable color function on the bracelet with a handle that could be switched by turning, but the same problem arose due to difficulty in obtaining the necessary materials.
We had intended to transfer the entire emotional circle onto the necklace to make it more concrete, but we abandoned the idea because we couldn't see it from a distance and couldn't choose suitable emotions.

Q: Does it relate to the established form of interaction you identified in your research?

A: Yes, the performance appears to align closely with the established form of interaction, where emotional states are central. The goal of creating a tool or product to help people connect based on emotions is evident, as the narrative and visuals likely revolve around shared emotional experiences or the desire for empathetic connection without explicit expression. The portrayal of loneliness and the yearning for unspoken understanding ties into the research theme.

Q: Did you clearly showcase the detailed interaction of the artifact?

A:From what I can observe, the artifact seems to demonstrate interaction between individuals, emphasizing the emotional connection. However, a deeper analysis of specific scenes in the video would clarify how well the emotional matching system is visually or thematically presented.

Q: Did you illustrate the complex nature of technology in a critical way?

A: It seems that the performance hints at the use of technology for emotional connection, but a critical representation of its complexities—such as potential drawbacks or unintended consequences—might not be fully explored. Highlighting how technology can sometimes misinterpret emotions or lead to isolation could add depth to the critique.

Q: Are there any changes you would do?

A: A suggestion for improvement would be to make the role of technology more explicit in the performance. For instance, showcasing how the system detects emotional states and pairs individuals could visually convey the artifact's function. Additionally, introducing scenarios where the technology fails or challenges arise could provide a more balanced, critical view of the solution.

Simultaneously, when it comes to the device itself, we need to pay special attention to a potential negative scenario where someone deliberately adjusts their wristband to reflect a specific emotion with the intent of approaching and mocking individuals in a sad state. This behavior not only contradicts our original purpose but also exacerbates emotional harm.

To address this issue, we can make technical improvements. For example, we could integrate a more intelligent emotion detection system that does not rely solely on manual adjustments by the user, but instead analyzes physiological data and behavior patterns to assess emotional states. Additionally, we could introduce a monitoring mechanism or user reporting feature to prevent malicious emotional interference.

With these technical enhancements, we can better ensure that the wristband's primary goal is to foster emotional support, rather than enabling harmful behaviors.

Cool

Project Overview:

The "Cool" project is a creative concept where a street air conditioner only activates after you and a passerby successfully complete a random "pose game" or "karaoke." This playful design aims to encourage collaboration and spontaneous interaction between strangers. The project attempts to address one of the key themes of the assignment: the Connection Paradox—the weakening of real-world relationships despite advancements in digital technology.

Meeting the Assignment Criteria:

The "Cool" project fits well with the theme of tackling social isolation by encouraging face-to-face communication. The idea is playful and integrates an element of cooperation, which compels people to engage with each other in person rather than virtually. By requiring two strangers to work together, it directly targets the Connection Paradox theme, seeking to rebuild a sense of community and interpersonal connection that has been lost due to digital over-reliance.

However, while the concept addresses the core issue, it could have further explored ways to make these interactions meaningful beyond just a brief game or karaoke. While fun, the experience may feel shallow, limiting its long-term impact in fostering deeper connections.

Creativity in Performance:

The performance aspect of the "Cool" project was creative and engaging. The team used dynamic demonstrations, showing how people on the street might initially hesitate to engage with one another, but eventually enjoy the interaction once they participate. The audience could easily understand the purpose and functionality of the artifact through the team's presentation. The combination of posing and karaoke offered a fun, light-hearted way to illustrate the product’s real-life applications. This performance brought out the essence of the project and made it visually appealing.

However, the emotional or social impact of the artifact wasn't fully demonstrated in the performance. While the game is entertaining, it lacked an emotional depth that could show how this device might build lasting relationships between individuals.

Suggestions for Improvement:

Add More Layers of Interaction: While the pose game or karaoke encourages brief interaction, the project could be enhanced by incorporating deeper, more meaningful interactions. For example, after completing the game, the device could offer conversation prompts or questions designed to spark a real dialogue between participants, encouraging more genuine connections.
Expand the Context of Use: The air conditioner could be more adaptive, perhaps offering other features beyond just cooling, such as personalized responses based on the emotional state or preferences of the users. This would integrate a more human-centered design and offer a wider range of social interactions.
Long-Term Engagement: Consider how the interaction can create lasting impressions. For example, the device could save the scores or moments of past participants, creating a mini-network of people who engaged with each other through the artifact. This would give users a reason to return to the device and continue fostering connections.

WeChat_20240923232315.mp4

the recording of the actual performance

For this assignment, I made several key contributions. In addition to designing and constructing the watch using cardboard and foam board, painting the display screen with gradient colors, and weaving colored strings to represent various emotions, I also participated in an improvisational performance. During this performance, I wore a necklace to vividly demonstrate how the device could be used in a practical and expressive manner.

Our team divided responsibilities based on individual strengths and preferences. I focused on both the hands-on creation and performance aspects, while other team members took charge of sketching the initial designs and planning the user interface and interaction. We communicated frequently, providing feedback and adjusting our work to ensure that each component aligned well. By collaborating effectively and respecting each other's roles, we were able to create a cohesive project that showcased both functionality and creativity.

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