collaboration with AUSTIN LEE and HUNTER SEBRESOS
spring09
View Project Site HERE
The Fortune Dispensing Machine was designed to allow for different types of interactions. Our goal was to design a dispensing machine that would engage people in a simple way. However, we wanted the experience to extend beyond the initial interaction. From this we came up with the idea of a machine that dispenses fortunes that come true. The planned interactions were as follows:
1- Dispensing machine at the entry to Art Center.
2- Delivery of fortune by FDS (Fortune Delivery Service).
3- Email conversation in response to the delivery.
In order to achieve these interactions, a dispensing machine was built. When the lucky participant pulls up the handle, the screen becomes activated, letting them know that the fortune is on the way. After a brief moment, the fortune gets dispensed into a round plastic case. The fortune we chose to put inside read "A yellow duck will cross your path today" The reason we chose this phrase was because as a student attending Art Center, the participant would never expect to see a yellow duck cross their path. Later on, the Fortune Delivery team(Austin and Haelim) followed the participant in a secretive manner to make sure that the fortune would be delivered to them. When the time was right, after about one hour, we contacted the Fortune Delivery Man(Hunter) to notify him the exact location of the participant. While the fortune was being delivered, the team documented the participant receiving her yellow duck. Her reaction was of surprise and we felt that through the observed delightful response similar to a child at a magic show, the fortune delivery service had somehow created magic.
There was an element of surprise at each interaction. When the individual received the case holding the fortune, they were very surprised the dispensing machine actually worked. When the individual was delivered the fortune, they were surprised and excited. The reasoning for this may be because the time between when they interacted with the dispensing machine and when they received their fortune was long enough for them to forget. The third component of this interaction was asking the individual to reply back to an e-mail about some questions dealing with the Fortune Dispensing Machine, but there was never any feedback. We realized that this may be a result of not wanting to interact with technology. Overall, we felt that this was a successful intervention and would like to conduct it a few more times before people realize the system behind the Fortune Dispensing Machine
