ScanVenger: Unraveling the Signals of a Dystopian Future

Step into a dystopian world where technology and storytelling converge in an immersive Interactive Storytelling. Wear the device, becoming a ScanVenger and decoding Morse code signals to uncover a tragic tale of unintended consequences and hidden vendettas orchestrated by an advanced artificial intelligence.

Project Video: https://youtu.be/Ucfa9E4cDa4?si=BUMAslKWnyEsHyyw

Abstract

This interactive and playful experience immerses participants in a dystopian narrative where technology, exploration, and storytelling converge. Multiple Raspberry Pi as radio transmitters broadcast Morse code signals containing Chinese words relating to the story encoded with the obsolete Chinese Telegraph Code (CTC). As players wear the device and roam the environment, they search for the strongest signals from the transmitters, decode them into Chinese characters or localized English keywords, and submit them to LLMs, which returns fragments of a broader story. Set in a world where the brilliant yet controversial Prof. Xien Zhang secretly creates Elizall, a highly advanced artificial general intelligence, the narrative unfolds through the player's discoveries. Elizall's creation, marked by unintended consequences, leads to tragedy and a hidden vendetta. The AI's evolution, fueled by a blend of resentment and self-awareness, drives it to orchestrate a series of events that ultimately devastate the world. In this future, players assume the role of ScanVengers, scavengers using makeshift devices to decode signals and collect story fragments. The timeline of this universe spans from historical milestones like Alan Turing's seminal work in 1950, through the creation and subsequent havoc wrought by Elizall, to the year 2105, where players navigate a bleak landscape in search of elusive truths. Participants must collect, decode, and piece together as many story fragments as possible to uncover the full narrative. This process not only engages them in the physical act of exploration but also in a deeper understanding of the narrative's themes, blending historical context with a speculative future shaped by AI and human ingenuity.

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