Interactive TV

As a performance artwork I had Waldo Patton inside of a Television cabinet. At the show Social Spaces , Waldo tried to engage the viewers in normal social interaction. The majority decline to be involved. Why did this happen? When I talk with Waldo about sports, technology, politics, I find it hard to find an end point. Waldo's conversations are always interesting, informative and laced with non-threatening humour.

I observed that the few involved with Waldo fell into one of three categories:

1. Acquaintance of Waldo
2. Technological Change Addiction
3. Personality capable or likely to have Technological Change Addiction. (Opinion based on impression not fact).

The important thing to observe was not that a certain type of person was engaged but that the majority chose not to be involved. I concluded that the masses much prefer the passive system which will not respond to them. Clearly the art gallery put a threatening spin on the system, but not enough of a threat to alienate such a subset of the viewers. Thus Interact to alienate such a subset of the viewers. Thus Interactive TV is more work or commitment than the average person is willing to commit or spend on leisure.

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