Background

In my understanding the history of science commonly recognizes three primary shifts in western thought regarding the position and relation of the human to the universe. The first being associated with Copernicus removing the earth from the center of the divine sphere, the second with the introduction of Darwinism further diminishes humans by removing them from the center of the earthly sphere, and the third often attributed to Freud is the introduction of the unconscious which shows that humans are often times not even at the center of their own conscious selves. In recent years I have stumbled on two thinkers Bruce Mazlish and Luciano Floridi who have each argued that we have entered or are on the edge of entering a new fourth mode of thought which is brought on by the introduction of “reasoning” or “thinking” machines. Humanity is now coming to terms with the fact that we are no longer in the center of our own constructed world of “intelligence”. Narrow AI in many fields now makes decisions with material, social, and culture effects faster and more effectively than any human or group of humans could. Recently, I have begun to wonder about how the world would look or how it already looks when people enter into relationships with these more-than-human technological agents.

 

Animism

“The batteries are dead.”

The first project idea involves identifying and classifying these agents. What technologies and algorithms are perceived as alive? What sort of material or digital spaces do their bodies have and boundaries enclose. At this moment, I think this would likely take the form of a taxonomic book or web app/tool.

Shamanism

“My son is very good with computers.”  

The second project idea is about looking at the relationship people have with technology, specifically those people who are considered talented with them. Can people be attuned/communicate with the computer systems of the world, in either a knowing or an unknowing way. Does this attenuation impact their perception of space, time, and social status can it be manipulated, learned, or fabricated?. I feel this project would manifest as experience design consisting of physical and digital feedback loops with the intent to produce a trance like aesthetic. Meditation and the infinite scroll.

Information-Organisms

“It’s alive”

My third idea is simply to create a series of machines or software applications which could be loosely defined as alive. With the ability to interact with the human world and the digital world.