https://editor.p5js.org/Lazordisk/present/haWO94Egh
I built Pong, but instead of using paddles people use their video capture streams. I’m not sure this is my most inspired work, but as soon as I had the idea I felt like I had to do it, and though I didn’t examine that feeling before it seems like now is the perfect time to do so.
I’m someone who thinks better when they’re walking or fiddling with something or the like. If I had to explain my burning desire to build video pong, it would come from these same impulses. It’s nice to literally bounce ideas off people when you’re talking, and zoom calls get so tiresome when I have to stare at the same screen for hours. This introduces a little motion into your chats with other people, which in my opinion makes it less awkward.
- Who is this experience for? Friends? Strangers?
Both! Break the ice with a stranger or catch up with a friend while playing video pong!
- What is shared between the participants?
The ball (if my code works right) and also video.
- Where is this interaction taking place?
On this big purple pong field which I have adapted by Alden’s example.
- Why? What is the nature of this interaction?
It’s a way to introduce something fun into your chats or planning sessions or what have you.
Beyond Being There response:
notes:
Abstract: “Why do we assume imitating face-to-face interaction is better?”
“This is understood to occur because of the large number of informal interactions necessary to create and maintain working relationships.”
“Make shoes not crutches.”
Q: What is essential to a conversation? What mechanisms?
Each medium has a mechanism that works better for it.
response:
I really like this! It’s a good idea to view things… without any presupposition about whether one is better than the other. It reminds me of transhumanism, or that guy who got all those cyborg implants so he can hear colors or such. There’s no need to assume that what humans are naturally given is going to be the best option for them.
Something I don’t think the authors mention but which I always keep in mind when building tele-experiences is that usually they allow for much more fantastical imagery than you could get face to face. If you’re video chatting with someone you can fly through the sky or become a giraffe or any number of other things which can totally change the nature of a conversation.
