The Third Object
Instructors: Sean Donahue / Shona Kitchen
The Third Object: a collaboration with Adam Guzman.
Adam and I wanted to know how a third object can change family conversation, body language, gestures, and spatial relationship. We aimed to alienate the television from the family and change the way the family views television.
“Hug the pillow or be creative to stop the madness—the object is very cheeky and is seeking your attention. Be aware it will get your attention.”
The pillow is randomly start taking over the telly, it will turn it off or run channels like crazy. In order to make it stop form acting up I have to hug it. Inside the gloves are "bend sensors". If bent correctly, the "object" from running wild.
http://superstudio08.wordpress.com/We have documented our entire work process on our blog, which is shared with all the other projects. Please have a look and see what great stuff everyone else was working on.
This movie shows a short demonstration on how the “Third Object” works and the reaction from the family
Once we placed “The Third Object” into the homes, something happened that we did not expect. Adam and I thought this object (a rebel on the inside, but soft and bride on the outside) would be hated. But instead we found that the family members did not get angry at our creation for controlling their telly, instead they got mad at each other for not being able to work the device correctly. This is something we did not expect at all.
The object itself was pretty sturdy, it even had a convenience zipper included. But unfortunately the technology inside was not made for the actions we asked for. From this experiment I also learned that being precise with words is very important. What "punching", "hugging", "really working it" meant to us did mean something else to the kids in the family. When Adam and I tested it we did not throw "The Third Object" around or jump on it.
When I went to instal the object on a Tuesday night "American Idol night” everyone was worried about missing their favorite show. Once the object started its naughtiness and switched the telly on and off like crazy, the family forgot all about their show. It was not about American Idol anymore, but rather about being in control of the TV and actually watching at all. Their was also these great moments where the family would be cheering, "yes, great you have it. now just don't let go..." and ups the TV would turn off again. They were never in control over it, the "object" just paused and tricked them.
This experiment does not specifically address “streaming media" directly—but how can I use everything that I have learned during this process to connect it to streaming media. Could this be a device to disconnect people, families from streaming media?
The making of the Third Object
"The Third Object" what a struggle. It started of with a pink sausage that two people have to work in order to activate the TV. Their was a giant donut with an embedded screen - only by rolling around would you be able to watch telly. Then there was DDR pad, a giant mountain in the living room where you have to climb on, many pillows connected to your sofa with lots of tentacles hanging off and lying around your room... and finally we came closer to the end result. KEEP IT SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD the blog really explains all the struggles.
Moments During Super Studio!
click here to see Luke Johnson's movie "Super Studio Moments"