As a preface to the explanation, a bit on Design Fiction.
The term Design Fiction is a tech and design specific term that talks about the role of make believe within the world of functional design. Ideas generated within Design Fiction can be whimsical, inventive and off kilter though not by necessity, but what Design Fiction does is through its use of a prop or a device or a structure – say a thing – presents the “thing” in everyday life as if it’s real. As such it is accepted as fact – it just is – in order to spark the imagination so it can be talked about and bandied about as if it were already real. The Mechanical Series can be considered as Design Fiction in that we’re not sure what it is, what it does, or if it does anything… but it very much exists. These seemingly once-functional objects look like they belong in our world, but we just don’t know how or what happened to them to get to the point where they are today. And that lends them a bit of mystery.
Okay with that behind us…
What does it do? Or maybe what did it do?
That is an interesting question. I would say it is doing what it does. Whatever that might be as I am not sure what it does or how it does it. Or even if it does anything. Anymore.
Does it need to be plugged in?
Good question. Some of them have an an AC cord or batteries, but I don’t know not sure if it matters, so we can try it.
Not seeing or hearing anything different.
Guess it doesn’t matter then. Or does it? Maybe it is just doing what it does but we can’t tell the difference between being plugged in or not? Or mayve they no longer work.
What does the switch do? Maybe that turns it On or Off. Or turned it on or off.
On some, the switch either goes up or down or On or Off, so maybe they do or did something.
I wonder what happens when we switch it up or down or On or Off?
Got me. Am thinking that when it is up, it does what it does or did when it is in the Up position. Same when it is down, it would be doing what it does or did when in the Down position. Thinking the same when it is On or Off. Makes sense to have switches. Especially with the AC cord or batteries.
But nothing changes in either position.
Right. Heck, no idea if the switches actually work, let alone what they do, or don’t do, or did. Maybe like being plugged in, it does what it does or did what it did. It is doing it. Or maybe it is not doing it. Remember, we are thinking that when it is up (On or Off), it does what it does when it is in the Up position. And I guess the opposite when it is in the Down position. Or they don’t do anything at all.
Some have an antenna. Is that so they can send and/or receive? Do they do anything?
Right. An antenna can send and/or receive. Am thinking that is what they should do or did – send or receive. So am guessing adding antennas to some seemed like a good idea. Maybe the switches turn the antennas off and on? Or more power and less?
But what is it sending and to whom? Or what did it send? Or what is it receiving and from where? Are we supposed to hear this through the speakers?
Am thinking that it is or was sending what it sends to whomever has one that receives and from whomever has one that is sending whatever is being sent. No idea what that might be.
But I don’t see or hear anything. Nothing is happening. There is no sound out of the speakers. Nothing lights up.
Maybe there is nothing to see or hear or light up. Maybe nothing is being received. On the other hand, do any of us need either of these things to happen for something to be happening? Perhaps they just do what they do and they are simply sitting there? Silently. Or they don’t do anything at all. Truth is, I have no idea what these “Mechanicals” do or are supposed to do. I just made them from ideas and images in my mind. Where these came from, no idea.
And the knob? It turns left and right. What happens then? Is it “more and less?”
Well, like everything else, the knob seemed like something that they would need to do what they do or are supposed to do. And so, yeah, am thinking that when you turn it left it does what it does when it is turned left. Same for turning it right. It does what it does but turned right. But again, I have no idea what they are supposed to do. I just make them.
So, I guess it is doing what it does but depending on how it is turned…”less and more” or perhaps “more and less.”
That would make sense. Though in the end, they do what they do or did what they did. Or don’t do what they do. Or perhaps they don’t do anything other than what you think they do… or don’t do. They simply are what they are.