Here is the prompt from The Thing from the Future that I selected:
Describe or narrate a scenario about an artwork found a century into a future in which society as we know it has come apart. Your description should address issues related to identity and elicit feelings of dread.
I decided to depict my scenario in 2 different ways. The first is using a free text to speech tool called Natural Readers. In my search for text to speech tools, I wanted to find one that sounded more natural than many of the voices included in free tools. Because this tool only allows for a few minutes of speech to text per day and does not allow for downloads, I ended up using my iPhone Voice Recoding app to record my text in two different parts. I then stitched them together and created the following audio file.
I also wanted to experiment with an AI video creation tool to create visuals for my text, however many of these tools are not yet released to the public (such as Sora), or they’re not currently free. I found a tool called VEED that would take my transcript and transform it into a video. However VEED has a time limitation, so it shortened my story. I noticed that the tool seems to be geared toward ‘Instagram-esque’ reel videos, including caption text with emojis superimposed on top of imagery. I found the emojis and the imagery that VEED selected to be interesting. It appeared to select emoji’s from key words that I used in my script, but they weren’t necessarily the best choices (in my opinion). For instance, when ‘work’ is mentioned, VEED selected a safety vest as the most appropriate emoji– not the best emoji for the context of the script. Additionally, the background imagery the tool selected was interesting, but they were also not particularly apt to the context of the script that I fed the tool.
I also could not download the video from VEED, so I used a screen recorder tool to capture the video during playback. I couldn’t crop the screen after downloading the video, so please don’t mind the multiplicity of tabs I have open. 😀
Here is the text version of my scenario, for those who prefer reading: Task 12 – Speculative Futures Text
Great story Lachelle! The way you intertwined the stark reality of a future ravaged by climate catastrophes with the personal struggle of connection was really good. The depiction of a world where breathable air is a distant memory and human interaction is confined to virtual spaces paints a scary picture of environmental collapse. This is something I often have nightmares about and I think many people do not realize what the environment is connected to in terms of our well being and self expression.
Your story made also made me reflect on the isolation we all experienced during Covid-19. This fundamentally altered our sense of self and connection to others. I, like Elise, found virtual connections felt hollow in comparison to in person. This has prompted me to remember and be thankful that we have the ability to travel, connect, and engage in person.
Hi Lachelle,
I really enjoyed how you presented your story through different modes! Your backstory is so well-developed, and I can definitely see myself using it as part of my grade 10 English class during our dystopia unit—it’s that good!
I have to commend you on your bravery in experimenting with VEED! I also gave it a shot, and after a few frustrating attempts, I realized that while AI tools have come a long way, they still have some limitations when it comes to fully capturing our speculative visions. Plus, I wasn’t quite ready to pay for premium features just to make those final tweaks. I ended up switching to iMovie for my trailer, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
Anyway, you did a fantastic job with your story! Thanks for sharing it—it was both inspiring and thought-provoking.