gnomedex 09 cyborg anthropology caseorganic
DESCRIPTION
This is the slideshow of a talk I gave at Gnomedex '09 in Seattle, Wa. It discusses the strangeness of humans and our prosthetic culture. From the externalization of our brains to the machine, to human/machine interfaces, to the blurring boundaries of public and private spaces, to the quick progression of our relationship with humans and computers --- to the strange fact that we externalize our fashion with exchangeable clothing. How our prosthetic devices make us sexy or not (vehicles, cell phones) and determine the speed at which we can live/accomplish goals. From the traditional prosthetics like the fake legs which amputees wear, to the prosthetization of our own tasks with virtual assistants and the 4 hour work week, to the idea that cell phones make give us superpowers -- the ability to hear MEGA-distances by extending our ears across the ocean. And finally, omnipresence and omniscience through social networking sites.TRANSCRIPT
Prosthetic Culture andCyborg Anthropology
@caseorganichttp://oakhazelnut.com
What is Cyborg Anthropology?
Before we answer that…
Let us talk about Prosthetic culture…
Aimee Mullins
Extending the capability of the legs…
But our objects are also prosthetic devices.
As they extend the capability of the ears.
Cyborg Anthropology studies how technology augments our ability to communicate and live.
“Soon, perhaps, it will be impossible to tell where humans end and machines begin”.
For instance…
The term “Cyborg”…
1960 Paper on Space Travel
Using it to describe an organism “to which exogenous components had been added for the purpose of adapting it to new environments”.
Like Space.
Which is very similar to…
Information Society
We are all Cyborgs.
Also a Cyborg.
Sometimes we FAIL.
A possible future...Civilization and its Discontents
Omit Unnecessary Cyborgs.
Use Friendlier Replacements.
But has anything really changed?
Sci-Fi has a nice way of creating the future…
Multiplicity of Prosthetics
EARLY PROSTHETICS
ADVANCED PROSTHETICS
WE’RE ALL SHEDDING MATERIALS
LOTS OF MATERIALS
KIND OF LIKE TREES
EXCEPT LEAVES HELP CREATE NEW GROWTH
And we don’t…
WE SHARE OUR PROSTHETIC IMPULSE WITH ANOTHER CREATURE
WE SHARE OUR PROSTHETIC IMPULSE WITH ANOTHER CREATURE
One of the earliest forms of life to develop an exoskeleton.
One of the earliest forms of life to develop an exoskeleton.
Trilobytes shed their eyes.
So do we.
So do we.
Among other things…
Tinyurl, Tr.im, Bit.ly
TELEOPERATORS
Teleoperators
Telenoia
All The World’s A Video Game
A Giant Spreadsheet
We’re all basically database animals.
It happens first in digital…
…and then it becomes reality
Or, it happens as a game…
TRAINING WHEELS
Maintenance
Either way, we’ve now become…
FAMOUS MACHINES (term from @anselm)
Webvisions ’09 @caseorganic
Here, talk about the escape velocity of data when there is too much of it on a hard drive (many photos, ect).
ESCAPE VELOCITY OF DATA
The automatic production of space.
Unified System
Box(USB)
10 Megs of Data
A HISTORY OF THE FUTURE
STEVE MANN
Self-Portrait of Steve Mann Wearable Computing Apparatus(1981)
Steve Mann Wearable Wireless WebcamDecember 13, 1994
Steve Mann Wearable Wireless WebcamDecember 13, 1994
Different types of input…
Mika Satomi — V2 Institute for the Unstable Media
Kelly DobsonMIT
Remote ImpactBoxingFrom a Distance
Different types of input devices.
Different types of input devices.
MIT Media Lab's Fluid
InterfaceGroup
Different types of input devices.
Belt
Steve Mann Wearable Wireless WebcamDecember 13, 1994