In what ways are bodies already enhanced (made more capable, beautiful) by technology (can use mechanical, physical, and chemical)?
I believe we can extend our bodies in many different ways. Whether it be internal or external, technology has come a long way to enhance us through capability, aesthetics, etc. First I'll begin with external enhancing technology. Glasses, for example, produce better vision and adjust to our sight sensory to make us more capable. The technological work put into wires and more for braces to straighten teeth is an aesthetic enhancing aspect. Next would be prosthetics or fake limbs. This crosses into internal as well, but it's shown on the outside. This helps out with capability of body usage. Similarly is hearing aids, as they use technology in a small device to let people hear what's outside to the inside. And lastly would be plastic surgery, where technology and surgical devices are used to enhance someone to be more "beautiful" or to fix something that could have happened at birth or in an accident.
Next is the more internal ways our bodies are enhanced by technology. These include mainly medical devices such as plates and screws or pins in your body to hold together a new knee or hip or bone marrow or something of that sort. Also there are pace makers with the heart. These are all for usage and enhanced capability.
And lastly, I would consider this the "blurred lines" of technology enhancement, that touches for a short period of time. I'm talking here about biotechnology. This certain kind of biotechnology would be CT scans, PET scans, or MRI's. We're connected to this technology for a brief period of time, and though it's not embedded in us, it still produces results that enhance an overall understanding of a condition or issue. To me, that enhances our bodies and makes them more visible.
Further Discussion: On Eric Siu's "Touchy"
1) Describe this work in detail:
Eric Siu's "Touchy" is a device, essentially a human camera, and the person who is beneath it is "blinded constantly until a human touch enables the opening of the automated shutters. While a continuous physical contact is maintained between Touchy and a user, the camera shoots a photo every 10 seconds" (Vimeo).
This project/device not only focuses on the relationship between humans and technology, but human interaction with one another as well. The video [work] that shows what Touchy does encompasses not only the use of the device, but symbolic and thematic issues about society as well, which I will discuss later on.
I'll delve a little into the video that was made to promote this device. The video begins with the viewer (third person perspective) watching a young female noticing that the man in the video (Siu himself) can't see with his device on. She touches him, and there's a camera sound. Then there's a close-up shot of her eyes looking into the camera. Interestingly enough, the viewer still doesn't see Siu's face. This was sort of a prelude and foreshadows what's to come later on in the video.
Then there's series of shots where Siu is trying to touch different objects and it's emphasizing how the technology is literally (as well as metaphorically) blinding him. This goes on until the female (same one as before) touches his face. We get a shot of the lenses opening up, emphasizing that human touch enables vision, light, a new perspective. The lenses opening are photos being taken and we see through the lens on the back of the device the photos taken.
2) How does the work use technology to extend or change the abilities of the human body?
In this work, technology is used to change the abilities and extend the human body. First I'll talk about how it changes the abilities of the human body. So if we really look at it, isn't "Touchy" disabling the human body in a way? I would say yes. The fact that "Touchy" is taking away vision from the human is in fact disabling. But then again, by disabling the human, the human can gain another ability. When vision is taken away, I think humans gain the ability to long for that closest to vision, touch. They long to feel what they can no longer see. That happens with Siu, as his vision is lost, a human touch comes in and he can "see" again. He can capture that moment with a photo or perhaps metaphorically a memory.
It extends the human body by making a camera. On "Touchy's" website it is stated that "The artist transposes the functions of a camera to a wearable helmet device comprising of a pair of automated shutters, a functioning camera and an interactive screen" (Siu, Concept | Touchy). The human feels what it is like to be technologized and essentially is a camera. The human body is extending in the sense that it's capable of producing something other than we usually do, technology itself. Of course we can produce technology, but not right away. There's steps involved. With "Touchy," the human produces a photo right away when vulnerable to touch.
3) What issues does this work raise about today's society or about the effects of existing technologies or about the potential or possibilities that new technologies might have?
For me, there are multiple issues this work raises about today's society. First, I think this work is explaining that without human touch, we are nothing. We need interaction or else our world would be consumed of darkness, emphasized by the shutters on the camera. I think it's also commenting on the fact that sometimes technology is blinding us. We always look at our phones or other devices and are blind to the "real" world and don't interact personally anymore. An effect of technology is that physical communication is diminishing because of it. I also think this work is conveying that we can really use technology a "right way" to interact and live both in a technologized world as well as a human and interactive world with one another. The fact that Siu could see and the photos were taken once he experienced the human touch examines the aspect that we can use humans and technology (to work together) to create or screenshot a memory and a beautiful moment, and to really open up our worlds instead of shutting them out with closed lens. That's the potential or possibilities that new technologies can bring to us and help us realize.
Works Cited:
Siu, Eric. "Concept | Touchy." Touchy. Eric Siu, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. <http://touchtouchy.com/concept/#sc>.
Siu, Eric. "TOUCHY, A Human Camera." Vimeo. Vimeo, LLC, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. <http://vimeo.com/38584876>.
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