Fotrune Tasker

Fortune Tasker is an interactive installation by Nadine Lessio and Alenn Predko using an Amazon Alexa, a tiny printer, and NFC components. This installation explores ideas around useless machines in which a device serves no utilitarian function and magical objects in which a technology is framed as other worldly rather than common place. Personal assistants are framed by their parent companies as helpful, general use computing devices that are developed for a wide audience. Fortune Tasker is an exploration in subverting that notion by modifying it into a computing device that serves a very specific need for a very specific person. A participant speaks to the Alexa to begin the program and is then prompted to answer questions. The participant then choose an NFC enabled object and place it on the altar presented to receive their fortune. Throughout the interaction the surrounding installation reacts to the responses the Alexa gives the participant.

Previous iterations have utilized natural and found objects for the installation. Due to the nature of travel required for this installation, new housing fabrication will be made that will travel better and new objects will be found for the surrounding installation.