YUSHIEN  archive

This interactive documentary explores the speculative evolution of female humanoid robots in East Asia through the lens of social, cultural, and technological development. Set in 2050, the project imagines the rise of the fictional company Hyper Robo Sapien Institute and its latest product, the Yumeji series robots, designed to fulfill societal demands for care, companionship, and labor. Inspired by Asian futurism, transmedia storytelling, and worldbuilding, the project incorporates real historical and cultural documents from East Asia, such as Japan’s 2007 Innovation 25 initiative, which aimed to integrate robots into family life. The project critically explores gender biases in robot design, the persistence of patriarchal control, and the ethical implications of creating robots for human purposes.

The interactive component is primarily presented as a web-based multimedia experience, allowing audiences to navigate the company’s archives. These include fictional corporate promotional videos, interviews with the Yumeji robot, user testimonials, and incident reports (such as the infamous 2070 malfunction scandal). Additionally, a virtual tour experience created with Unreal Engine and Convai AI NPC technology enables audiences to interact with Yumeji and explore this speculative vision of the future in 2050. Through these elements, users can delve into the complex interplay between technology, culture, and gender.

Keywords:  Asian Futurism ,  interactive documentary,  transmedia storytelling, speculative design, worldbuilding

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