Thoughts on Bench
Thoughts on bench is an exploratory experience that encourages contemplation, and interaction with an 'other-being' - a bench, produced in collaboration with Jake Kaliszewski and Robin Thorn
Overview#
How does your bench, where you stop and contemplate, see the world?
Thoughts on Bench is an interactive experience we created that encourages contemplation and conversation with a sentient bench.
The experience involved people entering a calm space, where a bench was placed overlooking the Bristol Harbourside. They were encouraged to take some time to pause, after which they were asked a series of questions from the perspective of the bench - all of which are intended to offer investigation and insight into an ‘other’ way of perceiving and being.
The bench is trying to build up a picture of what may be interacting with it.
After the conversation interaction, the bench would then offer a small piece of interpretive art (in the form of simple ascii), and a best guess at what might be sitting and pausing on it.
Building#
The project involved a couple of days of intensive planning between the three of us, exploring different ideas, and concepts to settle on what we eventually built together.
The actual system ended up being built using:
- local-only, and local-trained LLMs, run using Ollama
- on device text-to-speech
- pressure sensors hooked up to a bench surface to detect presence
- appropriately rigged speakers
- gaffer tape and hope (as taken from the pervasive media studio)
Environmental impact#
We were also interested in highlighting the data privacy implications of using the product - particularly in relation to the timing of the project, where people were beginning to express concern with AI systems, and their lack of transparency.
We also wanted to highlight the approximate environmental impact of the system, which can be seen on the receipt scan above.
Feedback#
Feedback on the experience was generally positive - many people offered simply that they enjoyed the chance to take a profound stop, and to step out off their normal way of experiencing.
We collected user feedback from users on boards, a snapshot of which can be seen above and below.
this project was made possible as part of Watershed / Pervasive Media Studios’ “Makeshift Camp”