8-bit Tower

Project Type	Cultural
Year	2022
Location	ConfigReality, Shenzhen
Conference	SXSW
Responsibility	UX & 3DScene Design, Project Management

"8-bit" Tower is a project submitted to SXSW in 2022. In an age where the deluge of information is at our fingertips, we find ourselves navigating through the complexities of a post-truth era, compounded by the global upheaval brought about by COVID-19. The pandemic has not only altered the fabric of our daily lives but has also underscored the profound impact of disinformation on the credibility of scientific discourse and public safety. In this context, the project "8-bit Tower" stands as a beacon of innovation and introspection, designed toilluminate the pervasive challenges of information distortion and the ease with which disinformation proliferates.

Interaction occurs when individuals engage with overt tweets encased in glass boxes on the ground, such as by liking them, which aids in the growth of the tower. These visible tweets are predominantly false information and disguised truths. As the tower grows, more authentic information is randomly generated within the tower's more hidden areas. Only by climbing the tower and interacting with these concealed messages can the mosaic on the corresponding website be removed, ultimately revealing a clear image on the web page. This process symbolizes the effort required to sift through misinformation to uncover truth, reflecting the project's critique of the ease with which disinformation spreads and the diligence needed to discern truth in the digital age.

Website Page

Trailer

The project parallels the biblical Tower of Babel, embodying collective human endeavors to scale new digital heights amidst the complexities of information in the modern era. The "8-bit" element, reminiscent of early digital graphics, symbolizes the basic building blocks of digital interaction, akin to the bricks of Babel. Both narratives explore themes of ambition, communication, and the nuanced challenges of collaboration in pursuit of monumental goals. However, while Babel's tale warns of division through miscommunication, "8-bit Tower" encourages unity and critical thinking among participants navigating a maze of information and disinformation, reflecting on our collective digital construction and the importance of discerning truth in the information age. This cross-platform endeavor not only scrutinizes the impact of our casual interactions with information but also visualizes the growth of the "8-bit Tower" as a metaphor for how easily we contribute to the construction of a reality based on the superficial appeal of popular posts, urging a more careful and patient exploration of the obscured facts beneath the surface of our information-saturated world.