Is There Love in the Telemantic Embrace Summary

In this essay Roy Ascott questions whether there is real human emotion expressed though telecommunination technologies. Does this form of technology engage the intellect, emotions and sensibility of the observer? He asserts that these new technologies are influencing society, this creating a "telemantic culture". This new type of culture comprise a set of "behaviors ideas, media, values, and objectives" that are contrasting to those of time past. The term telematics involves interaction between humans and artificial systems of intelligence, which many experience in our daily lives. The content of this telemantic art is created rather than received by the observer, as in a stand still form of art. The various media that incorporates this form of technology is always changing. The result of this interaction is the meaning of the telematic art that is embodied in the data. Ascott parallels the context of telmatic systems to the scientific analogy that was given by John Wheeler. In these systems the oberver gets more involved and now becomes the participator. In addition to John Weeler's analogy, the author refernces the telemantic experience to a work called The Large Glass, wehre love is expericed. Because of these types of works, Ascott suggests a "redescription of human consciousness"-since the experiece with the technology gives a sense of a real human embrace.

Ascott goes on to say that the telelmatic network funels a new way of perceiving the human race, as it changes through this technology. He calls this new order of perceptionglobal vision. We as humans are now majorly dependant on the computer, and our cognitive processes are not completed without the computer technology. We are living in a dynamic telematic culture, which allows us to think and act more creatively, with a passionate experience with the participation and interaction with other minds globally. Ascott futhers his discussion by transforming the meaning of the computer as a solid object to that of that of something that actually has intrinsic attributes-he understands the computer system to be a "pure system, a universal transformative matrix". This is how the use of the computer is incorporated in the telematic culture.

In conclusion, this essay enlightened the reader with the meaning of being in a telematic culture and how the computer now relates to the human not as mere object only, but as one that supports a new way of imaginative expression. In this embrace there is a new level of consciousness and creativity.

Final Project- Remix

Please click here for my remix of the Lake Bryan Situational Tour.

MORI Summary

MORI, is an installation that was partially created by our instructor, Randall Packer, which utilizes the movements of the earth to develop a powerful telemantic experience with the observer. Prior to the class entering the installation, we were enlightened with the technical aspect of the project through observation of the program on which it operates. MORI receives information of the earth's movements via the Internet, which collects the movements of the Hayward Fault in California that are detected by a seismograph. After receiving the background information, we proceeded into the "dark room". My initial reaction was one of slight fear and anxiety in hearing the loud sounds, feeling the vibration, and seeing NOTHING! However, my eyes eventually adjusted, and could maneuver throughout the room, along with the help of the fiber-optic cable that lined the interior. While we walked to the center of the room, the environment of the outside world was gradually fading, as we were being immersed into what felt like another dimension of the earth. The variety of sounds and the vibrations that were felt from the bottom of our bodies and up to our heads, all interacted to created a connection between us and the earth.

In the center of the installation, there was a portal that displayed the seismic data stream. On that particular day the stream was very active because of an earthquake that had recently taking place. After observing the very sharp and vigorous movements of the stream, we were told to lie on the ground in order to fully be immersed into that environment, and so said so done. Immediately, it felt as though the sound effects and vibrations maximize and I was elevated to the highest plane of the earth. It felt as if the entire earth was beneath my body, and not my body within the earth. I felt a real connection with the earth that I don't feel on a daily basis. After a few minutes of laying there I began to drift in to "dreamland"; the experience had transitioned from once of fear to one of relaxation.

The overall exposure to this "earthwork" allowed the user to telematically experience the movements of the earth. One could encounter the effects of an earthquake that took place in another continent, just by being in the room. At that point, one is submerged into that space by means of the seismic data that is received via the internet. The ambiance of MORI truly reflected the notion of telepresence, which is a term coined by Scott Fisher to describe the process of "extending out physical and mental being into a remote space by means of telecommunication technologies". This project differs from the ones which were discussed in class that incorporated telepresence, in that there was no direct form of interactivity with the user in order for it to be a completed work. However, in order for it to carry out its intended functions, there must be some form of interaction with the user.

This project allowed us to experience the earth in a way that we have never really encountered. The experience was fascinating, enlightening and intellectual; made me appreciate the earth even more!