Pioneer Plague Project

       For Heptapods, it might be difficult for them to actually use a camera – as their tentacles cannot operate precise instrument like a camera – but it will not be tough for them to understand how a camera works with the new installation we designed. The whole system maintains two parts: two displaying screens and one keyboard that is connected with a camera, which is used to teach them basic functions of the camera, including shutter, flashlight, lens, and focus.

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       In front of Heptapods, there will be two screens showing different images. Screen 1 will display the image that the camera captures while Screen 2 will display a video about what action a human user will do when they use this function of the camera. Moreover, a keyboard with four buttons will be put in Heptapods’ accessible place. Each button is connected with a certain function of the camera through cables. Therefore, Heptapods could practice using the camera by simply pressing the button. Here’s a case to detailly describe how Heptapods learn to use a camera with this new communication installation. For instance, when Heptapods click the “lens” button, the lens will zoom in, but when they click the button again, the lens will zoom out to return its original state. When the lens is zooming in or out, the image captures by the camera will be projected on Screen 1 in real-time. In this situation, Heptapods will learn how the zoom in and out influence the area shot by the digital camera. Meanwhile, on Screen 2, Heptapods could see how human beings utilize the same function of the camera by turning the zoom ring. Similar learning processes will also be applied when Heptapods press other buttons: when they click the “shutter” button, the actual shutter of the camera will be pressed and they will gain a photo; click the “flashlight” button, the flash of the camera will pop up; click the “focus,” the focus of the camera will be adjusted, and Heptapods could see the image change from blurry to clear on the Screen 1.

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       This new communication system is a special design for Heptapods’ use, helping them to comprehend human technology effectively. First, due to the limit of their physical structure, they fail to handle precise and tiny instrument like a camera. Luckily, with the help of this new communication system, they can indirectly operate the camera by pressing the button in front of them, which is an easier action for them to do. Also, since people cannot master their written language and spoken language at this point, it is impossible to communicate with them directly. Therefore, communicating with them by using live video and images will be a more practical and time-efficient method. After they learn how the camera works, people can show them the scenery of the earth and human culture by showing them photos, and they can understand that what they see is taken by this tiny machine.