About the Project:

The work “Semiotic Investigation into Cybernetic Behaviour” or SICB is a robotic installation that is set up to behave like a real time theatrical performance that is carried out by two completely self absorbed robots, ALAN and CLARA that both see the world differently.

These robots have been programmed with all the possible choices they can use to react to their environment. They have also been programmed with the desire to interpret their environment accurately and the need to have their peer always agree with their analysis. Both robots have an opinion in how they think the world should behave; they both expect certain situations to occur often.

In having this expectation in how their world should behave, the two robots believe that there are other situations that cannot happen and if they do, the robot's confidence in themselves is questioned. Depending on how often they think they are wrong, the robot's confidence can shatter to a feeling of paranoia where their world seems to be falling apart, breaking all the rules of what should happen. Conversely, when the robots feel right all the time, they become exceptionally arrogant.

Due to the robots' ALAN and CLARA's ability to choose their own reactions, this theatrical robot play shows over time all the possibilities in how these two robots can react to their environment and to each other. Thus, we see a performance that shows all the complications that arise from making unwavering assumptions about the world we live in.

Semiotic Investigation into Cybernetic Behaviour from Jessica Field on Vimeo.

Video was filmed and Edited by Jowita Kepa © 2004

Project Sketches:

Construction Design Sketch (First Draft)

Communication breakdown between all Cybernetic machines

Prototypes of ALAN and CLARA for Programming Development

This is how my first project looked like for 2 years, right up to 2 months before my show at Interaccess in 2004. My family thought I was a bit crazy obsessing over wooden plaques with electronics for so long. In the two months, I was able to make them look a little more interesting.

Images of SICB completed at top of page were photographed by Jowita kepa © 2004

Jessica Field © 2009

Based in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Last updated June 23, 2009