Bodies & ICT

1. Bodies & ICT By Russell Weissman Jennifer Dowe

2. Bodies & ICT • “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology • Approach the Body & Penetrate It • Acceptance • Traditional Associations • Changing Beliefs & Norms • “Fashion” • The Future

3. Bodies & ICT “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology What are the relationships between “natural” bodies and “artificial” technology? Similarities Differences Oppositions Complements

4. Bodies & ICT “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology • Similarities: • How is the Human Body a Machine? • Both are physical systems, and both are interconnecting independent systems made up of hardware and software. • - Brain < > Processor/Hard Drive (memory) • - Body < > Machine/Hardware • - Heart < > Battery • - Organs < > Essential Components • Both perform tasks in response to input. • - Sensory (body) • - Variable (computer)

5. Bodies & ICT “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology Differences: The computer has a long way to go! The body self repairs and is more complex. - The body has emotion. - The body has the ability to conceptualize. - The body has the ability to supply its own power. - The body is capable of problem solving without all necessary pieces. - The body can adapt itself to changing situations. - The body has superior methods of obtaining input.

6. Bodies & ICT “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology • Opposed: • Technology is not always good for the body. • - Nintendo-thumb • - Joystick wrist • Technology detracts from intimate contact. • - Availability of porn and sex toys means less human interaction • - Machines provide ways to escape “real life.” • - Negative on Reproduction: less sex equals less…well, you get it. • Communication Technology = less need for face-to-face contact

7. Bodies & ICT “Natural” Bodies & “Artificial” Technology • Complementary: • The Body and the Machine can work together. • - The machine helps with communication and processing of information. • - Creative Purpose • - If machines are designed for the body, it helps them get along. • - Maintaining relationships • - Scheduling

8. Bodies & ICT Approach the Body & Penetrate It Factors that make it possible for ICTs to first approach the body and then penetrate it: Uncertain boundaries of the body itself - Mechanical Extension of the Body People’s tendencies to imagine archetypal figures of the body as a machine or, vice-versa, of machines as the human body.

10. Acceptance Bodies & ICT • Current uses - Machines we accept on/in our Bodies • Ways the body attracts and envelops artificial machines: • - Diagnostic > Probes • - Therapeutic > Pacemakers, radiation, hormonal therapies • - Reproductive > In Vitro Fertilization • Identity > Plastic Surgery, Genetic Engineering, Sex Change, Virtual, • Tattoos and Piercings • Communicative > Cellular, Laptop, Pager, Email, IM, TextMessage • - Entertainment > Gaming • - Sex Toys • - Intermediary > Technology of these services is the intermediary to • physical, social, professional relationships

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12. Bodies & ICT Traditional Associations What are the traditional associations concerning bodies and technology? The traditional body is: Private Personal – to Individual Private Internal – Function, Reproduction Public External – Presence, Identity, Labor Traditional technology is: External – Separate from the body Public Labor - Separate from the body - Industrialization - Computing Private & Public Communication - From the telegraph to wireless technologies

13. Bodies & ICT Changing Beliefs & Norms • Changing beliefs and norms are changing: • Labor is shifting from physical to intellectual. • > the more technologies we have • = the more we want • = the more we develop = the more we buy • = the more we use • =specifically in the workplace • We are outsourcing manual labor to countries with fewer ITCs. • There is more responsibility for the individual to use ICTs • - Job Requirements (middle management cut out) - Knowledge of technology used to carry out tasks • Intimacy • - More virtual contact = less physical contact. • - The Internet is making traditionally private things more public: • - Talking about private things in a “public domain” is leading to fewer and fewer truly “private” subjects. • - The Internet is blurring the lines between public and private • - Acceptance of the artificial as normal in the personal life is growing

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15. Bodies & ICT “Fashion” • Computing and communication devices are currently being designed and marketed as “fashion.” • Wearable Computing means: • - Highly personal devices • - Always powered on • - Always accessible • - Serves user through all aspects of daily life • Can be picked up off of the table or put into our pocket • PDA, Mobile Phones, Computational Watches

16. Bodies & ICT The Future • What is the future evolution of the relationship between ICTs and the body (where are we going)? • ICTs will be: • - Cheaper • - More Accessible (ie: vibrators available on Amazon) • - More Acceptable (Women sharing experiences with toys) • - Improvements in materials, motors, and marketing will continue. • - There will be more decoration and personalization of technology. • - Technology will continue to grow as a status symbol. - Technology that penetrates the private body even more will be developed. • > nanotechnology (ie: nanorobots) • - It is a matter of when, not whether. • > The technology is there, It’s just waiting to be developed.

17. Bodies & ICT The Future

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