(Event 1): Expanding the Human Experience

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Green Bunny Kac.jpgEduardo Kac

On April 8th  I attended the presentation titled BioArt + Assitive Device Art:Transformation of Ability and Perception, the Plasticity of the Mind, and Human Expansion. The seminar led by Dr Aisen Caro Chacin revolved around the growing interest of human biological-techno enhancement. Dr. Chacin is a techno-artist-scientist- who earned her Ph.D in Human Informatics, as well as her BFA in sculpture and her MFA in Design and Technology. Dr Chacin’s work integrates assistive technology and art to aid and enhance human physical and sensory experience. The field of BioArt began in 1986 although the term was not coined until 2000 when the Artist Eduardo Kacs artwork of a rabbit genetically modified with green florescent protein was created (we read a little about this in week one of the class).

              Eyeborg.png https://eyeborgproject.tv/

Dr. Chacin contends that  humans are limited by their physical conditions and her assisted device art designs are meant to further discussions among artists, health providers and bioethicists. An important part of her work and the work of Bio-Artists revolves around ethics and the implications of genetic and human assistive modification. Chacin who also studied in Japan, stated that Japanese culture pioneered the concept of Device Art where the device is the content and its integration with human sensory extension is a valued contribution to fine art, as an example a video game is recognized for its artistic significance in the same way a sculpture would be. Device Art conceptualizes methods of expanding human and technological interface. Already the integration of medical devices has become commonplace as devices like I-watches and fit bits become less expensive. “Commodification of the quantified self” Chacin states is evidenced people’s desire for physiological enhancement of abilities.

One example of this is a program called “Eyeborg”. Filmmaker, Rob Spence has the first wireless video camera eyeball. He has partnered with a company called Next Eye Prothesis producing 3D printed prosthetic eyes. The replacement eyes can contain additional features like led lights or a video camera. While these prosthetics are designed for people who have lost an eye, what are the implications if someone with two working eyes simply prefers a video eye?

Dr. Aisen Chacin designs.jpg Play a Grill.png

The designs above are Dr. Chacin’s and include an auditory device called Play-a-Grill which allows the hearing impaired to listen to music by using vibrations through the teeth that go directly to the inner ear. Another ADA from Chacin are the Echolocation Headphones that augment sound to enhance spatial recognition. She said they were designed for the sighted to utilize as a way of seeing their area through parametric sound. Her designs were really fascinating and thought provoking. Here is a link to her website   http://www.aisencaro.com/index.html

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CPJ-AbCsT8&t=48s

My lack of exposure to this field made this an exciting new learning experience, however, I was unfamiliar with a lot of the terminology and that required some further investigation after the presentation. Not having a science or technology background I am in awe of the ways Dr. Chacin and others have conceptualized the possibilities of human evolution. I just keeping thinking about the $6,000,000 Man and The Bionic Woman two shows from the mid-1970’s where due to accidents a human was merged with robotics making them  super-human. This presentation revealed how science, engineering, robotics and art are developing ways for society to repair and enhance human sensibilities beyond what I ever thought possible. 

PS- Another bio-artist I found interesting is Charlotte Jarvis. Her website is https://cjarvis.com/

Eyeborg: https://eyeborgproject.tv/