I would like to use this post to capture some of my thoughts after showing my revamped performance 1 at the feedback collective today…

What I Changed

For this draft, I wanted to lean more into showing the memory section of the performance and make it as soothing as possible. I also wanted to include more details about this memory being the first time I had a device enhance a naturally wonderful experience. I worked mainly in the SSML code, but also added the technical ability to switch between lighting scenes. I simply made it so the left and right arrow-keys can toggle between the preset scenes.

Feedback Collective and My Thoughts

The main comment I got was that people are unsure what the overall message was (Alexa good vs. Alexa bad) and that there are many directions I am trying to pull them in. While I am trying to have this performance do a lot, I can’t expect the many takeaways to be generally apparent or emergent. I need to get more specific about the individual moments. Furthermore, I want to think about where I am coming from before this. I imagine this piece happening second, after the crazy morning routine. What is the emotional and performative setting going into that? I feel like the googlie eyes and hands are certainly from that other world and that I would want this bit to allow go into a deeper emotional space that the earlier comedy allows for. I also want to play more in the sonic experience, including working with feedback and how I will have to mitigate the difficulties with the skill. The key is to not make it so droning. I feel like I need to play on top of the Alexa with feedback and mouth sounds and the emotional journey of the breath and lights. I also want the memory conveyed by the droning Alexa to be understandable. It may just be that the SSML is not allowing it to be understandable. Perhaps the use of repetition could be helpful. I am not so sure about the success of the bluetooth speaker specifications section. That needs to be much more overt. Adam had an interesting comment about not being able to focus on what was actually happening if he was watching the lights. I don’t know how to describe it, but I know exactly what he means. I want to crack how to make the story more understandable. Do I need to layer more on top or strip more away? Jay also had a very cool conceptual idea that these devices won’t actually show real memories, but instead ones that probably happened in our past.

Moving Forward

I’m glad I shared this with the group today because it gave me a ton to think about as I continue to develop. I feel like I need to make things a bit more overt, or to make a more deliberate action to show specific moments. It still feels very general as a piece and doesn’t account for changes or shifts. This is something I can definitely work on. However, I also need to move onto the next performances to get things rolling on those.