All Narratives (328)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Will Caster and his wife Evelyn work together on a project known as “Transcendence,” in which he hopes to help artificial intelligence attain singularity by figuring out how to pair sentience with its massive intelligence. After he is shot dead by an anti-technology terrorist group, his consciousness is uploaded virtually, allowing him to continue his life as a coded program. After this digitally immortal consciousness is paired with the internet, Will’s powers grow immensely, and his manipulative reach becomes global.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Will, Evelyn, and Max Part I: Digital Resurrection and Incorporation
Will Caster and his wife Evelyn work together on a project known as “Transcendence,” in which he hopes to help artificial intelligence attain singularity by figuring out how to pair sentience with its massive intelligence. After he is shot dead by an anti-technology terrorist group, his consciousness is uploaded virtually, allowing him to continue his life as a coded program. After this digitally immortal consciousness is paired with the internet, Will’s powers grow immensely, and his manipulative reach becomes global.
Are digitally uploaded consciousnesses technically the real person, or just an imitation? Should digital immortality be allowed if it means digital humans may have far more power than living humans? If people become able to upload consciousnesses, how should they be kept from abusing vast networks? If or when technology reaches the singularity point, how should this be regulated, and how can it be ensured that such powerful technology is not abused for hegemonic purposes?
Transcendence: Rift Attacks-
- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
In this film, the entire globe copes with the outbreak and spread of the mysterious MEV-1 virus. Amidst the chaos, blogger Alan Krumwiede rises to prominence by spouting conspiracy theories such as the tale of how he was “cured” of the virus using the mysterious drug Forsythia. He uses his new platform to challenge the CDC and its policies before ultimately being arrested for spreading misinformation.
- Kinolab
- 2011
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
Misinformation and Hysteria During Global Emergencies
In this film, the entire globe copes with the outbreak and spread of the mysterious MEV-1 virus. Amidst the chaos, blogger Alan Krumwiede rises to prominence by spouting conspiracy theories such as the tale of how he was “cured” of the virus using the mysterious drug Forsythia. He uses his new platform to challenge the CDC and its policies before ultimately being arrested for spreading misinformation.
Can misinformation on digital media channels be handled any better than it already is, or are we at the point where any digital media misinformation which occurs is an inevitable byproduct of the existence of these channels? How can experts maintain authority in the digital age? Do digital technologies cause more bouts of hysteria than there would have been before their existence?
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- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
After a mysterious global outbreak of an unknown virus, several health organizations, including the CDC, get to work figuring out the origins of the virus and how to defeat it. They begin by digitally analysing the genome of one strain of the virus to understand how it infects the human body and how to vaccinate against it. They then use surveillance cameras to track the movements of Beth, one of the first known cases of the virus. At the end of the film, an omniscient point of view reveals how Beth originally got the virus.
- Kinolab
- 2011
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- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
Digital Analysis of Composition and Spread of Viruses
After a mysterious global outbreak of an unknown virus, several health organizations, including the CDC, get to work figuring out the origins of the virus and how to defeat it. They begin by digitally analysing the genome of one strain of the virus to understand how it infects the human body and how to vaccinate against it. They then use surveillance cameras to track the movements of Beth, one of the first known cases of the virus. At the end of the film, an omniscient point of view reveals how Beth originally got the virus.
On a macrocosmic scale, have digital technologies made humans better in terms of warding off viruses? Does being able to get genomic data about viruses more quickly always equate to quick eradication of a disease? Are global pandemics large enough emergencies to potentially violate the privacy of those who spread them through means such as surveillance programs? What about the spread of viruses is impossible for even digital technologies to capture?
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- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Rachel, a fifteen year old fan of the pop star Ashley O, is gifted an Ashley Too doll for her birthday. Ashley Too is a robot who contains a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, and thus emulates her personality and can carry on a conversation with the owner of the doll.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Digital Duplicates and Friendship
Rachel, a fifteen year old fan of the pop star Ashley O, is gifted an Ashley Too doll for her birthday. Ashley Too is a robot who contains a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, and thus emulates her personality and can carry on a conversation with the owner of the doll.
How can robots and devices such as the Ashley Too doll help children cope with grief or loneliness? How can it be ensured that children branch out in their connections beyond such robots? What are the issues present with modeling artificial companions after real-life public figures?
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
- Kinolab
- 2018
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
Building a Better Worker
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
With advances in computational genomics, how can it be ensured that humans are not used in experiments which fundamentally alter their genomes, especially when it comes to protecting workers already exploited by corporations? How has the increase in automation raised the bar for what a productive workforce looks like? How has the digitization of channels such as news media and the stock market altered the landscape of economic perception and expectations?
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Chris, a ride-share driver who took passenger Jaden hostage in order to leverage a conversation with social media CEO Billy Bauer, tells the story of how his distracted driving (through looking at a notification from social media on his smartphone) ultimately killed his wife and other drivers. As the hostage situation comes to an end, the world watches over social networks before looking up from their phones and returning to their lives.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Consistent Digital Distraction
Chris, a ride-share driver who took passenger Jaden hostage in order to leverage a conversation with social media CEO Billy Bauer, tells the story of how his distracted driving (through looking at a notification from social media on his smartphone) ultimately killed his wife and other drivers. As the hostage situation comes to an end, the world watches over social networks before looking up from their phones and returning to their lives.
Does the speed and volume of sensational events which users can access through digital channels ultimately de-sensitize users to the real world? Do social media companies have culpability in ensuring that their products are not over-addictive, or does responsibility ultimately fall solely on users to make the right choices? Are current protections against distracted driving aggressive enough? In a meta-commentary sense, do you believe this narrative adds anything new to the digital addiction/distracted driving conversation, or is it the same warning that has been given over and over again to no avail?