Bang Hai Technologies
Conceived as a darkly satirical "Black Mirror" style guided tour, Bang Hai Technologies emerged as an immersive theatrical experience within a pre-fabricated structure built by G-SMATT, a leading tech company. The structure was made from 13 glass-walled shipping containers embedded with programmable LED lights, hosted a tour of Bang Hai Technologies.
The Premise: The Beating Heart of Metropolis
Bang Hai Technologies was situated in Metropolis and stood as Boomtown’s answer to Silicon Valley. A nexus for makers, creators, and tech enthusiasts, it housed groundbreaking advancements, with the spotlight on the latest creation—AMI (Artificial Machine Intelligence). The immersive maze revolved around this revolutionary product, promising to redefine lives like to Siri on steroids.
The Structure: A G-SMATT Marvel
Crafted by G-SMATT, the structure featured a two-story L-shape configuration for visual impact. Comprising 13 glass-walled containers, each embedded with programmable LED lights, the structure provided the canvas for an immersive tech journey.
The Experience: A Guided Tour of Tomorrow
Festival-goers queued for a guided tour of Bang Hai Technologies, limited to groups of 15 people. The journey commenced with a promotional presentation delving into the company's history and flagship product, AMI. The tour progressed through various rooms, unveiling a series of twisted tech products, culminating in an immersive data-harvesting VR experience.
Tech Partners and Conceptual Products: A Showcase of Innovation
The project collaborated with tech partners, transforming Bang Hai Technologies into a showcase for cutting-edge technologies:
"Digital Afterlife" from DoubleME:
Concept: Overcoming mortality by scanning emotions and memories, creating a Digital Afterlife.
Technology: Bespoke computer program, using cameras for facial scanning and a bright screen for 3D rendered holograms.
Various products from Bristol Robotics Lab (BRL):
Concepts: Programmable blood, bionic limbs, x-ray vision, telekinesis.
Technology: Smoke and mirrors techniques—hidden magnets, servo motors, water pumps controlled by brain waves.
"Designer Baby Service" from Beau Townshend SFX:
Concept: Tailoring embryos with genetic modifications for desired traits.
Technology: Silicone fetus in a tank of colored water.
"AMI’s Brain" from Greg Carter:
Concept: The impenetrable base of AMI storing harvested data.
Technology: Game involving rearranging AUX cables to trigger a completion message.
"The Surrogate Experience" from SkyEdge:
Concept: Live life through a Synthetic Surrogate, experiencing Boomtown from afar.
Technology: Bespoke head-mounted harness for first-person video exploration.
"Fomo No Mo" from Scallywag Productions:
Concept: Relive the festival’s events without leaving home by accessing others' memories.
Technology: Overwhelming sensory experience using raw footage from Boomtown's past 10 years.
Bang Hai Technologies transcended the boundaries of traditional festival experiences, merging satire, innovation, and immersion in a journey through the twisted yet intriguing landscape of tomorrow's tech.