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Prospective Optics
Exploring the Possibility of Your Future
The Mind in the Machine
Trevor McDonald | 02.03.23
From an individual to a nation, from tomorrow to infinity, the future is something society is always preparing for. Whether it's deciding what to have for dinner or designing a new way to travel to space, humanity is always looking for that next step forward. But is everyone’s ideal the same as larger systems make it to be? What if it was possible to challenge that vision of the future and see what the future looks like at the individual level? "Prospective Optics" challenges both societies' views as well as AI's views of the future.
Project Statement
- Interested in exploring historical scenes
- Thinking about what counts as a utopia
- Re-defining art in different periods.
Initial Interest
Utopian Visions
Form & Content
Medium & Intent
Re-defining Concept
Major Themes
Manipulable
Tangible
Tangibile
- Challenging societal views
- Empowering individuals to create
- Displaying the contrast between Humans and AI
Tangible
Visual Precedents
(Precedent Image)
Kaleidoscope
View master, Mattel
- Different view from reality
- Manipulable by user
- Simple intuitive design.
Conceptual Precedent
Admiral of Ren
Travis Durden
- Combines a fantasized world with myths and idols (more fantasized worlds)
- Blends contrasting themes of modern culture and classical art
“I will finish what you started….right after this break.”
“Fascinated by the construction of myths & idols, he interrogates how we, as humans, determine what will be raised to popular culture or elevated to divine cult, and how history has influenced us in making this choice.”
Determining Content
Present
Future
Past
Determining Content
Present
Future
Past
Physical Design
Symbolism
Mechanism
Form
Ease of Viewability
Housing Space
Prototyping Exterior
1
2
3
Midjourney
Generating Lenses
Integrating Capsule
- Background/Foreground
- Key phrases attached
- Easily manipulable
User Experience Diagram
Capsule
LEDs
Lenses
OUTPUT
INPUT
INPUT
Chat GPT Component
AI chatbot auto-generative system created by Open AI
Template
Without any characters, describe a fictional world that takes place in the future in a city that exists [geographic]. There are [beliefs/values] representing the beliefs and values of this city. Describe this within 100 words.
[Geographic]
[Beliefs/Values]
Example 1
Foreground Lens
Background Lens
Template
Without any characters, describe a fictional world that takes place in the future in a city that exists in a [prosperous coast town using primitive forms of technology]. There are [musical instruments everywhere] representing the beliefs and values of this city. Describe this within 100 words.
In this future world, a city on a thriving coast town has advanced technologically in some ways, but still relies on primitive forms of technology. Music is central to their society, with instruments permeating every aspect of their daily lives. The different instruments symbolize the beliefs and values of the city, serving as a reminder of their rich cultural heritage. Despite their technologically primitive ways, the city prospers and continues to thrive, driven by their passion for music and their connection to the past.
Geographical: [prosperous coast town using primitive forms of technology]
Beliefs/Values:
[musical instruments everywhere]
Example 2
Foreground Lens
Background Lens
Template
Without any characters, describe a fictional world that takes place in the future in a city that exists in a [futuristic space age]. There are [a lack of robots and a use of books and scrolls] representing the beliefs and values of this city. Describe this within 100 words.
In this future world, a city exists in a high-tech, space-faring society. However, despite the advanced technology available, the citizens have chosen to forgo the use of robots and instead rely on traditional forms of information storage, such as books and scrolls. This decision reflects the values of this city, placing a premium on knowledge and wisdom that has been passed down through the generations. The extensive libraries and archives filled with these books and scrolls serve as a testament to the city's commitment to preserving the past and passing on the wisdom of their ancestors to future generations.
Beliefs/Values:
a lack of robots and a use of books and scrolls
Geographical:
[futuristic space age]
Components Diagram
From an individual to a nation, from tomorrow to infinity, the future is something society is always preparing for. Whether it's deciding what to have for dinner or designing a new way to travel to space, humanity is always looking for that next step forward. But is everyone's ideal the same as larger systems make it to be? What if it was possible to challenge that vision of the future and see what the future looks like at the individual level? "Prospective Optics" challenges both societies' views as well as AI's view of the future.
"Perspective Optics” is a museum exhibit installation that allows an individual to see a future they envision. A user can switch out lenses on a wall mount that allows them to view a solitary human in numerous different outcomes. The lenses display various utopias and dystopias that can be contextualized differently when put in the foreground and background of the human figure.
This project is for everyone, allowing them to choose and challenge the path laid ahead. Each lens has a keyword assigned to it. When the lens is read by a sensor, the keyword is sent to a Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi then inputs the information into a template. The template is a story prompt for chat GPT, a text-based AI software. When chat GPT receives the prompt, it creates a story based on its database. The story is then relayed back to the viewer via audio. Allows the user to compare and contrast their interpretation to AI’s interpretation.