Abstract

Mechanical Storytelling is a customizable storytelling device that allows the user to create narratives by animating objects on a stage using a combination of movements that are built into the device.

Mechanical Storytelling is based on the concept of automata. What is an automaton? According to Automata and Mechanical Toys, “People are often puzzled about the meaning of the word ‘automata,’ but they usually know what a ‘mechanical toy’ is… Do automata bear any resemblance to … wind-up toys? The answer is that they do indeed – only more so. Automata are distinguished from mechanical toys by the cycle and complexity of their movement. … Automata were programmed to execute a series of complicated movements within a time span.” (Automata and Mechanical Toys, by Rodney Peppé, The Crowood Press, 2002).

The experience of playing with or even just watching automata can be magical for people because a very simple action – such as turning a handle – can bring about an unexpectedly complex series of movements. The hidden mystery of automata lies in its complicated set of internal mechanisms – these are what make this transference of energy from the simple to the complex possible. Inspired by this principle of unexpected outcomes that emerge from a simple input motion, Mechanical Storytelling is designed to allow the user to create complex, evocative movements simply by rearranging a set of modular input controls.