Eugene Ahn
James Daher
Truth-Teller
The prophetic Truth-telling Machine offers words of wisdom and guidance to participant who interact with it.
Truth Teller is an object that communicates with a person by giving words of wisdom each time he/she plays. It communicates using four wheels with 24 engraved words along the front side of each wheel. The four wheels: subject, verb, object, and adjective are placed in a row to generate complete sentences. While the words have been carefully chosen, the machine is unpredictable by its nature.
Truth Teller uses slot machine mechanism, and is inspired by the addictive tendencies of gambling. By applying simple motion of pulling the handle (positioned on the right side of the machine) the four wheels begin a rotating movement, and then come to a stop. The result is a surreal, but compelling combination of four words composed as a sentence.
Designed to be played by one user at a time, and attempting to be seen as an object or vehicle for communicating with a super natural presence, Truth Teller offers a moment of spiritual intimacy with the player relying on its strange and all-knowing presence to prompt a psychological exchange.
In the tradition of religious beliefs and superstition, certain objects are thought to be holy. They provide wisdom, protect one from danger, foretell the future, or give good luck. Those objects are desired to be touched. They long to be seen by people. We believe this behavior acknowledges human vulnerability.
Truth teller exists where Las Vegas meets Oracle of Delphi. In an ideal situation one might find Truth teller existing in such a place as Las Vegas.
The user approaches the object as if they were approaching an alter. User kneels down. S/he rests their knees on provided bench similar to what one might find at a church.
The core mechanism is like that of a slot machine. User pulls lever to initiate rotation of wheels. Upon the completion of several rotations each of the four wheels rest at a random word. Each wheel has 24 words on it. The four words connect together to complete a sentence which elicits spiritual enlightenment.
The object itself which is lit from the inside, is cylindrical, and is made of wood, emitting a warm glow of light which can be seen through the carved letters. Selected words from the roman alphabet are carved into four wheel like structures parallel to one another orbiting around a central axis.
Truth Teller uses slot machine mechanism, and is inspired by the addictive tendencies of gambling. By applying simple motion of pulling the handle (positioned on the right side of the machine) the four wheels begin a rotating movement, and then come to a stop. The result is a surreal, but compelling combination of four words composed as a sentence.
Designed to be played by one user at a time, and attempting to be seen as an object or vehicle for communicating with a super natural presence, Truth Teller offers a moment of spiritual intimacy with the player relying on its strange and all-knowing presence to prompt a psychological exchange.
In the tradition of religious beliefs and superstition, certain objects are thought to be holy. They provide wisdom, protect one from danger, foretell the future, or give good luck. Those objects are desired to be touched. They long to be seen by people. We believe this behavior acknowledges human vulnerability.
Truth teller exists where Las Vegas meets Oracle of Delphi. In an ideal situation one might find Truth teller existing in such a place as Las Vegas.
The user approaches the object as if they were approaching an alter. User kneels down. S/he rests their knees on provided bench similar to what one might find at a church.
The core mechanism is like that of a slot machine. User pulls lever to initiate rotation of wheels. Upon the completion of several rotations each of the four wheels rest at a random word. Each wheel has 24 words on it. The four words connect together to complete a sentence which elicits spiritual enlightenment.
The object itself which is lit from the inside, is cylindrical, and is made of wood, emitting a warm glow of light which can be seen through the carved letters. Selected words from the roman alphabet are carved into four wheel like structures parallel to one another orbiting around a central axis.