Social EducatorGülce BaycıkVA401 Project

Project DefinitionAn interactive installation, criticizing the way a society builds

an individual’s character and morality.

The InstallationA screen on the wall playing the 2D animation of the robot.

The robot’s sculpture, with sensors, standing in front of the screen.

The CharacterA robot,

Is something that any person in any culture will recognize.

It conveys no specific emotions to a person.

Is designed to perform tasks mechanically, in a human way. So it creates a sense of empathy in people.

The InteractionThe robot will be doing some regular actions in the animation.

The viewers will then decide if the actions being done is appropriate or not, and according to that they will either punish the robot by hitting the sculpture on the head, or

praise it by petting the head.

The OutcomeAccording to the negative and positive feedbacks, the robot will either continue doing the action more frequently, or less.

After the given time for the project to take place is finished, we will see what kind of a character the robot has developed

in the end.

With This Project,1. In the short-run, we will be able to see the behaviors or

actions our society believe to be acceptable and vice versa.

2. In the long-run, if the project could take place in different cultures, we will be able to compare each one’s

understanding of norms and morality.

Objectives1. To create an entertaining animation for the public.

2. To make this whole installation work as a self-critic machine.

3. To see how society’s norms and ethics shape the behavior of an individual.

GoalGoal is to execute the project with various social groups and classes, and then compare and contrast their results to see how their cultures and backgrounds affect the end results.

The Actions