Alfred Lord Telecom (ALT) is a poet, actor and speechwriter. He is known for appearances on the festival circuit and at clubs and events throughout the UK. His work appears regularly on Radio 4. Ian Davis Kramer (IDK) asked for his views on audience response systems and event technology.
ALT: I think it’s very exciting. Audiences today, in particular those under 35, have grown up in an interactive world where user choice can change the nature of the experience. Our expectations have been rewired to expect a level of interactivity and to be disappointed when it’s not present.
IDK: Rewired?
ALT: How would you like it if I took away your TV remote? Built in to everything you watch is the notion that you can change it. In another five years augmented reality will be up-and-running. Then you’ll be able to choose what things look like. Fed up with grey skies? Have a blue one.
IDK: How would an audience response system change what you do?
ALT: I’ve always been interested in interactive fiction and non-linear narratives. It would be interesting to structure a piece around choices made by the audience. You’d have to plan the thing very carefully and accept that some of what you do won’t be seen or heard but with that on board I think you could do something exciting that hasn’t been done before.
IDK: Apart from art?
ALT: One of the things I’m working on at the moment is what we’re calling a cloud documentary. One of the components is a series of live shows which will be touring in 2012. Our aim is to explain everything from geology to philosophy in ten minute chunks. Each chunk will be linked to other chunks by questions. So when we’re describing the Greek experiment to determine the circumference of the earth by measuring shadows cast at midday we can then follow that with a chunk about the Ankythera device or Ptolomy’s epicycles. If I were doing that talk it would be great to navigate with the audience, rather than leading them on a predetermined path.
IDK: Final thoughts?
ALT: Event technology and audience response systems are a very interesting way forward.
