Dutch Electronic Art Festival (DEAF98) Symposium,
November 21, 2pm Rotterdam time; 8am at WearCam.org site
http://wearcam.org/deaf98/index.htm
I AM A CAMERA:
Experiment as accident
Steve Mann
University of Toronto
mann@eecg.toronto.edu
http://wearcam.org
- Experiment as accident
- Experiment is extension of the body
- the camera an extension of the eye,
- the computer an extension of the brain, and
- wiring, circuits, and the internet an extension of the nervous system.
- WearComp/WearCam
(wearable computer, wearable camera)
experiments/inventions of 1970s and early 1980s:
- experiment in connectivity
- transformed body into not just a camera,
but also a networked cyborg entity.
- body thus became a `photoborg' entity:
cybernetic organism always seeking best picture,
in all facets of ordinary day--to--day living.
- mediated reality: altered perception of vision used to attain
a better understanding of light and shade.
- mediated reality applications: toward personal solitude and
the
prevention of the Theft of Solitude.
Preventing the Theft of Attention.
- later evolved to Wearable Wireless Webcam,
early 1990s experiment in connectivity and shared visual space.
-
Invention evolved in coming years.
- clothing=extension of our skin:
when endowed with networked computational capability,
becomes social fabric of community.
- neighbourhoods of people who are cameras could also reduce crime,
and serve as alternative to Orwellian world of ubiquitous surveillance
Historical Overview/Context