Dividends of Destiny

Berlin | 2023 | Interactive installation

Special thanks to Lydia Law Li

Dividends of Destiny is a coin-operated fortune-telling machine. After making a payment, you place your hand on a palm reader, which generates and vocally delivers a unique fortune. Will the fortune be favorable or foreboding? That depends on the payment you're providing!

Dividends of Destiny was my final project for the Interactive Berlin workshop I took in July 2023 at School of Machines.

Full view of Bombay Beats

Judgment and biases shape our world, invisibly influencing our daily experiences. Especially in software, like those governing bank loans or job applications, hidden parameters can leave us feeling powerless.

'Dividends of Destiny' is a bold incarnation of this inequitable truth. It doesn't bury its bias in code or conceal it in the fine print, but brandishes it with an unapologetic bravado. More coins equal sunnier fortunes, a glaring testament to a world that often rewards those with more to give. The beauty lies in its transparency; you're at the helm, deciding your fate within its skewed logic.

Pay up! Drop a coin, and challenge what it means to be in control!

Side view of the control panel Side view of the control panel Front view of the control panel Full panorama view of Bombay Beats People hanging out at Bombay Beats Side view of the control panel Front view of the control panel People hanging out at Bombay Beats Full panorama view of Bombay Beats