#humanscripts

The emotional states that I’ve found through the Affective Computing paper are consistent with the further research I am now having to do with vocal expression. I’ve read through two papers now and the difficulty I’m finding is locating specific expressions in sentence form that correlate to each emotional state. The ideas discussed in these papers are more in-line with the vocal modulation applied when actors read a script and were asked to perform a certain emotion. Listeners were then asked to decide on what emotion was being performed. The papers both dealt with representing this through models and quite thought-out tables. It is refreshing to see that the recording aspect of my project is backed by research however finding these emotional scripts will be difficult. My game-plan for this week is to cement my understanding of common expression. I will then take this and read through movie scripts and find emotional dialogue that represents the emotional category of that character. Movie scripts will provide the written base for each representation and I can then back this with my other research. Alternatively, I may just sit down after reading through scripts and write down my own versions of emotional dialogue. I am hoping for at least 5 per category with 4 categories. Ideally I’d like 25 soundbites in 4 categories.  Time to read through some movie scripts.

After speaking to Sangeeta today I’ve revised and slightly changed the way I am approaching my individual interviews. I found, through interviewing the subjects I have, that it was difficult to completely communicate the project and get what I wanted out of them. It wasn’t always the easiest process explaining the concept and getting them to say exactly what I wanted. The changes I’ve made will hopefully make the process of getting the sound bites out of people easier. I didn’t want to have to only record myself but if that was necessary, I would’ve had to. The new approach I’ve taken is handling the script and what is said myself. Based in the research I’ve done of human emotions I’ll write a library of sentences that are common expressions that each correlate to a sentic state. With this library I will approach each individual and allow them to choose a sentence or statement that resonates with them. Through this process I’ll ask them to read aloud a few sentences that they’ve chosen and decide on the best fit. After a decision has been made I will then record them myself. They only need to say their sentence. Changing the way I approach these recordings will streamline the process greatly as it cuts off having to listen through 15-20 minute recordings to find the soundbites. I potentially sacrifice losing some amount of authenticity through approaching it this way however mechanically this will be far easier. 

The payphone acts as a conduit between the human and technology. Reminiscent and acting as a mascot for the communication technologies of the past. Those rail roads, TV circuits and sewer lines that form the basis for the internet we have today.  To humanise these concepts I needed something tangible. The payphone performs it’s function as an important symbol for the project’s concept while simultaneously being the project’s mechanics.  I also think they look cool. 

The User is an important aspect of this digital age as it represents ourselves.