Art that reveals how technology frames reality | Jiabao Li

Summary

The speaker, both an artist and engineer, explores how technology shapes our perception of reality in subtle ways, often unnoticed. Through innovative projects like perceptual machines, a helmet that alters how we see the color red, and a conceptual web browser plug-in, the speaker draws attention to how digital media influences our thoughts and interactions. The helmet amplifies or minimizes red to simulate social media effects, while the plug-in reshapes digital content to highlight biases. The speaker emphasizes that technology is both a problem and a solution in how we see and connect with each other.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Technology invisibly shapes our perception of reality, often without us realizing it.
• 👓 Just like glasses that subtly frame our view, digital media influences how we see the world but goes unnoticed.
• 🔴 The artist created a helmet that simulates an allergy to the color red, representing how opposing ideas get amplified in social media, leading to heightened emotional reactions.
• 💊 In 'nocebo mode', the helmet makes red objects larger, similar to the way social media amplifies disagreements.
• 🔍 In 'placebo mode', the helmet shrinks red objects, symbolizing how people avoid differing views by unfollowing or ignoring opposing opinions online.
• 🌐 Digital media commodifies our perception, with algorithms exploiting our biases to keep us engaged and sell ads.
• 🖥️ The artist conceptualized a browser plug-in that highlights overlooked content and shrinks the presence of echo chamber voices, balancing the visual representation of opinions.
• 💸 The plug-in also shows the monetary value of ads in our visual field, revealing how much our attention is being commodified.
• ⚖️ The artist acknowledges the risks of these tools being misused for controlling public narratives, highlighting the challenge of keeping them fair and personal.
• 🤝 Despite technology's role in creating isolation, it can also be used to reconnect people by retraining perception and promoting common ground.

Q & A

What is the main argument the speaker presents about technology and perception?

The speaker argues that technology subtly mediates our perception of reality by blending seamlessly into our everyday experience. It shapes the way we see the world while remaining unnoticed, influencing our thoughts and actions without us being fully aware of its impact.

How does the speaker use their glasses as a metaphor for technology's influence?

The speaker compares their glasses to technology, explaining that they often don't notice their glasses because they have become an integral part of how they perceive the world. Similarly, technology frames reality in ways that go unnoticed unless something specific draws attention to it.

What is the purpose of the helmet designed by the speaker?

The helmet is designed to highlight how we develop 'mental allergies' to different ideas or stimuli, much like how we can develop hypersensitivity to colors. It simulates an exaggerated reaction to the color red, representing how digital media amplifies certain ideas, causing people to become more entrenched in their views.

What are the two modes of the helmet, and what do they represent?

The helmet has two modes: nocebo and placebo. In nocebo mode, it exaggerates the perception of the color red, simulating how social media amplifies ideas that trigger strong reactions. In placebo mode, it minimizes the red, representing how people avoid or filter out opposing viewpoints, creating an echo chamber.

How does the speaker relate the helmet’s function to social media behavior?

The speaker relates the helmet's function to how social media amplifies content that provokes strong emotional reactions, leading people to form insular groups with like-minded individuals. This echo-chamber effect escalates anger and division, much like how the helmet exaggerates the color red.

What is the purpose of the web browser plug-in proposed by the speaker?

The web browser plug-in is designed to make users more aware of the biases and filtering algorithms that shape what they see online. It highlights ignored voices and reduces the prominence of overly amplified content, helping users critically engage with the information presented to them.

How does the plug-in concept address the commoditization of perception in digital media?

The plug-in concept reveals how much of our perception is commoditized by showing the real estate value of ads and how much users should theoretically be earning from their attention. It raises awareness of how digital media exploits user perception for commercial gain.

What are the risks the speaker acknowledges about creating such technology?

The speaker acknowledges that while the technology they propose could help people become more aware of biases and distortions, it could also be misused to control the public narrative. Forcing citizens to install such tools could lead to new forms of manipulation and censorship.

What is the speaker's broader vision for technology's role in society?

The speaker envisions that technology, although currently contributing to isolation and division, could be used to reconnect people by challenging existing models and encouraging more conscious interaction. By retraining perception, technology can help people find common ground and address biases.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between technology and neutrality?

The speaker asserts that technology is never neutral. It frames reality, provides context, and can both contribute to and solve societal problems. The key is to use technology intentionally to uncover blind spots and reshape how we perceive the world.