When We Are Aligned: p5js Sketch
For this assignment, I wanted to create a sketch for Valentine’s Day. When the two users reposition their video feeds along the x-axis and are aligned, fireworks will start to explode.
Beyond Being There
With the pandemic, we have all experienced such an extreme form of isolation, pining for the good ol' days where we could spontaneously meet or even merely be in the presence of strangers without the fear of contracting a contagious virus. We've seen the creation of so many new interactive social spaces, and too often criticize them by underlining what each new space lacks, how it seems there's no real way to replicate the nuances of a true in-person interaction. Beyond Being There reminds us that we as technologists should "not focus on the tele-part but the communication part" and to ask "what's right with the new medium?" We have to look at the ways that technology has enhanced communication by making it easier to support "asynchronous communication, anonymous communication, and to automatically archive communication." I started to think about the social norms and anxieties that we are freed from with our ability to communicate over these new telecommunication platforms. There are times where I have trouble speaking up in class, but mediums like Miro allows me to contribute to class discussions anonymously and engage in a meaningful way with whatever I have the capacity for. When showing up for Zoom classes, I don't spend as much time thinking about my physical appearance and switching my outfits. How about the joy of being able to mute!
These new platforms have the power to amplify the voices of those where in-person interactions can be harmful. In Performative Avatars, Matt Romein shared this video of a young streamer in VR Chat who has this rare condition called epidermolysis bullosa or "The Butterfly Disease." He details the hardships of his condition, where his skin is so fragile that a hug would scrape his skin off, where he has to wear bandages all over his body, where taking showers is the most painful thing he has to do. When he's out in public, he talks about how people just stare at him and see what ails him, but not him for who he is. Streaming has given him agency of how he presents himself to others, where he can be seen for how well he plays his games regardless of any setbacks, and allowed him to make friends regardless of his appearance. In a way, VR Chat has allowed this young streamer to experience the world beyond being there.