This TED talk showed how one man was able to use his color blindness disability to his advantage by using technology to find a new way to interpret color. I think this video showed how technology is being used in many ways to aid in peoples disabilities and in situations such as this, become even more advanced. By using this eyeborg technology, Harbisson is able to visualize color in his brain from sound waves. What was amazing about this in addition to the technology was that he could actually visualize more than what is normal in human perception.
With this technology he is able to turn sound into art which makes his work so interesting using two totally different types of mediums. Another interesting point is Neil Harbisson’s perspective that he does not feel he is using technology, he feels he is the technology. It makes me think differently about my current perception of a “Cyborg”. He is quoted as saying “Technology is made by humans so if we modify our body with human creations we become more human.” This brings up many different possibilities in what might be possible as humans and technology start to become a unified being.
If I were to use some technology that would make me more “Cyborg” like, I think I would like technology that allowed me to retain information, almost like a hard-drive on a computer, so that I could tap into any bit of information or memory at any given moment. It might be a stretch but who would have thought we would have technology that converted light frequencies into it’s own language by using sound frequencies. We just might be closer to this than we think.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Janet Echelman: Taking imagination seriously
After watching the TED talk on Janet Echelman, it became clear that there is so many more possibilities to create art that is innovative, refreshing and brings people together. Janet Echeman creates giant breathing sculptures that flow in the wind and work in harmony with the surrounding environment. By finding inspiration from fishing nets, she was able to create something that really connects with nature in that it is always changing form. By creating this large living sculptures in the middle of cities it really changes the feel of that environment and adds some serenity and softness to the hard edges of surrounding buildings.
It’s also interesting that her inspiration came from fishing nets which have been around for hundreds of years and is combining the fishing nests fluidity and form with new technology to create this sculptures that will survive the elements and keep their fluid nature. After some further research I discovered that she is creating a piece titled, “Impatient Optimist” at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014. I look forward to seeing it in person when it’s complete.
If I were to personally think of ways I could create something like this, it would be on a much smaller scale and I would design it to cover a back deck of a home or to cover an area of your outdoor living space. I would design the sculpture to provide the feeling of shelter and openness and create the illusion of a significant space. Combined with some LED lighting, you could create the same sense of an inviting form that interacts with nature and works with your own environment to create the ideal place to get lost in.
It’s also interesting that her inspiration came from fishing nets which have been around for hundreds of years and is combining the fishing nests fluidity and form with new technology to create this sculptures that will survive the elements and keep their fluid nature. After some further research I discovered that she is creating a piece titled, “Impatient Optimist” at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014. I look forward to seeing it in person when it’s complete.
If I were to personally think of ways I could create something like this, it would be on a much smaller scale and I would design it to cover a back deck of a home or to cover an area of your outdoor living space. I would design the sculpture to provide the feeling of shelter and openness and create the illusion of a significant space. Combined with some LED lighting, you could create the same sense of an inviting form that interacts with nature and works with your own environment to create the ideal place to get lost in.
Synesthesia
Before researching Synesthesia I had no idea what this word meant. Nor did I realize that there were many different types of Synesthesia or that up to 4 percent of the population has some form of synesthesia. One of the types of Synesthesia which is the most common, deals with a person who may associate individual numbers or letters with a specific color. I tried to do this myself with associating a number with a color but I could not picture anything that solidified what the letter S represents other than it’s the letter of my first name and my favorite color is blue, so naturally S should be blue. I don’t think this qualifies me as someone with this ability.
If you had the ability to combine multiple senses, I think it would allow you to see the world in a more artistic way because you have a way to identify certain objects, sounds, colors or words and give them a distinct characteristic. It could also be very limiting for example if you associate the shape of a circle with the color red, then would every circle you draw have to be red, or do you just see it that way and can make a conscious choice to change the color to purple or something else, but still knowing full well that it should be red.
I found a website that gives you a little test to see if you may have any signs of this condition. You can check it out here: http://www.synesthesiatest.org/
What is even more interesting to me are people that have the ability to actually evoke a certain taste when they associate or hear certain words. This is a very rare form called, Lexical-Gustatory Synesthesia. It would be interesting to see what words had what flavor, and if you could taste it after hearing a specific word, would you also crave that food or be disgusted by it?
The biggest take away from learning about Synesthesia is that everyone perceive reality in a variety of ways. This also makes me think how no two people see color the same way or how subjective a piece of art is to each individual. If I could pick a type of Synesthesia to have it would be the ability to taste color. I want to know what blue tastes like.
If you had the ability to combine multiple senses, I think it would allow you to see the world in a more artistic way because you have a way to identify certain objects, sounds, colors or words and give them a distinct characteristic. It could also be very limiting for example if you associate the shape of a circle with the color red, then would every circle you draw have to be red, or do you just see it that way and can make a conscious choice to change the color to purple or something else, but still knowing full well that it should be red.
I found a website that gives you a little test to see if you may have any signs of this condition. You can check it out here: http://www.synesthesiatest.org/
What is even more interesting to me are people that have the ability to actually evoke a certain taste when they associate or hear certain words. This is a very rare form called, Lexical-Gustatory Synesthesia. It would be interesting to see what words had what flavor, and if you could taste it after hearing a specific word, would you also crave that food or be disgusted by it?
The biggest take away from learning about Synesthesia is that everyone perceive reality in a variety of ways. This also makes me think how no two people see color the same way or how subjective a piece of art is to each individual. If I could pick a type of Synesthesia to have it would be the ability to taste color. I want to know what blue tastes like.
Thomas Heatherwick: Building the Seed Cathedral
The designs and Architecture of Thomas Heatherwick seem to break the mold of what we are use to seeing in design and everyday building structure. From the examples he presented in his TED talk, I was left thinking why are we not seeing more of this in modern Architectural design? Each one of his projects seemed to take into account how the design was going to be used, the message or experience it was sending to the viewer, and how well it was going to work with the natural surroundings.
I particularly liked the design of the rolling bridge that became a circular sculpture when it lifts out of the way. This was a completely new approach on how bridges normally would open and its not only still functional, but it makes the bridges purpose more interesting and exciting for the user.
The UK Pavilion project gave Heatherwick Studios the opportunity to create a unique representation of their country without employing outdated stereotypes. By focusing their design on a small area allowing the remaining area to become a public space it gave their design a focal space that kept it separate from the Expo’s other pavilions. The design itself reminded me of a sea anemone, that gracefully flowed among the waves.
What I observed most about Heatherwicks designs were the way he used arches and curved lines in most of his work. You do not see a lot of hard lines in his work and each design seems to flow in harmony with the surroundings. Each of his architectural designs and renderings of buildings are not only intellegent use of space but they are also very inviting to the viewer. If I could incorporate this idea in the way I design my next studio I think I will add some elements of curves and find more ways of making it work within it’s natural surroundings.
I particularly liked the design of the rolling bridge that became a circular sculpture when it lifts out of the way. This was a completely new approach on how bridges normally would open and its not only still functional, but it makes the bridges purpose more interesting and exciting for the user.
The UK Pavilion project gave Heatherwick Studios the opportunity to create a unique representation of their country without employing outdated stereotypes. By focusing their design on a small area allowing the remaining area to become a public space it gave their design a focal space that kept it separate from the Expo’s other pavilions. The design itself reminded me of a sea anemone, that gracefully flowed among the waves.
What I observed most about Heatherwicks designs were the way he used arches and curved lines in most of his work. You do not see a lot of hard lines in his work and each design seems to flow in harmony with the surroundings. Each of his architectural designs and renderings of buildings are not only intellegent use of space but they are also very inviting to the viewer. If I could incorporate this idea in the way I design my next studio I think I will add some elements of curves and find more ways of making it work within it’s natural surroundings.
TED: Heather Knight: Silicon-based comedy
Heather Knight brings up an interesting point in her TED that explores the interactivity between robots, and humans. She states “ It’s just a robot. It doesn’t have feelings.....yet”. Which makes me wonder just how far away are we from robots making emotional decisions? I like the idea of using robots to tell jokes or for entertainment purposes but where will we be even 10 years from now when a Robot not only can tell the jokes, but maybe learn your emotional state and make decisions on how to react to you based on your mental state.
A robot that tells jokes seems harmless, but it just makes me wonder where do we go from here? As you watch the audience react to the robots jokes, you almost forget that its just moving parts and electronics up there, and you start to almost humanize the robot on some level. The technology used in robotics seems to be developing so fast that at some point we may have to ask ourselves “how human do we really want robots to be?”
If I were to relate this to my own design it might be to think of how I could add that human element of connection to my videos. If you can connect with your audience with humor, excitement or emotional level that solidifies that human connection, than you have created a lasting impression.
A robot that tells jokes seems harmless, but it just makes me wonder where do we go from here? As you watch the audience react to the robots jokes, you almost forget that its just moving parts and electronics up there, and you start to almost humanize the robot on some level. The technology used in robotics seems to be developing so fast that at some point we may have to ask ourselves “how human do we really want robots to be?”
If I were to relate this to my own design it might be to think of how I could add that human element of connection to my videos. If you can connect with your audience with humor, excitement or emotional level that solidifies that human connection, than you have created a lasting impression.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
First Amendment Findings
When analyzing the 1st Amendment and trying to decipher the outdated text, I realized that many people may not understand all that this amendment entails. I rewrote it to state: The government will do nothing to prevent the expression of ideas to those that are interested in hearing or reading about them, nor will it do anything to promote or stifle the practice of any religious faith. Nor will it prevent the citizens from peacefully protesting or expressing opposition towards the government.
I asked 4 people their opinion of this definition. I interviewed a male in his 20’s, a female in her 50’s, a female in her 60’s, and a female in her 30’s. Each had a little different take on this definition. They all felt that the freedom of expressing ideas was a good thing, but a few felt that the freedom of religion allowed for radicals to abuse this right.
I was surprised to find out that there really was no pattern. I found that the location of where the person lived, and their background, impacted their opinion more than the age. The male who lived in Texas felt very strongly that American’s should have this right, however felt that there needs to be limit on these freedoms when it comes to people who are in the U.S. illegally. That illegal aliens should not have these same rights.
The women in her 50’s lives here in Washington and her main focus was on the limits that are already implemented on Christians. She felt that the freedom of speech has been denied because a Christian can no longer say “Merry Christmas.” She mentioned the Sea-Tac Christmas tree debate. The woman in her 60’s was from Wyoming, she supports this freedom as long as it does not infringe on other’s rights. She focused on the religious extremist who would allow their children to die instead of get medicine, because they believe it’s in God’s hands. She lives in a very rural area and there are Amish settlements nearby.
The last interview was a woman in her 30’s. She listens to the news daily and she supports the right of freedom to protest as long as it didn’t encroach on other’s rights. She mentioned the religious radicals who protest at innocent people’s funerals. All of these people had great examples of when we might need to place a limit on our rights.
These interviews made me realize that like so many other written texts, the 1st Amendment can be defined in various ways based on a person’s age, background, and area of residents. Each person put their personal take on these questions and gave local examples of their concerns. I think it would be a good idea to modernize this amendment so it is better explained to protect everyone’s rights equally and not allow for there to be loopholes that allow people to press their beliefs onto others. Each person has a right to their beliefs but no one has a right to belittle or slander someone else’s beliefs and opinions, and as of now this law blurs that line between expressing one’s opinion and putting down others.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
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