Brain-Computer Interfaces (43)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
In a short vignette told by a museum curator, a doctor known as Dawson devises a brain-computer interface device which can allow him to feel the physical sensations of patients in order to deliver a quicker diagnosis. However, his ownership of this technology ends up bizarrely shaping his psychology, putting himself and others in danger.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Consequences of Digital Hyperempathy
In a short vignette told by a museum curator, a doctor known as Dawson devises a brain-computer interface device which can allow him to feel the physical sensations of patients in order to deliver a quicker diagnosis. However, his ownership of this technology ends up bizarrely shaping his psychology, putting himself and others in danger.
How should technology which allows us to feel the sensations of others be regulated? What are the pros and cons of hyperempathy technology? How can autonomy over one’s own body be assured when technology like this exists?
Black Mirror: Dawson Experiences Death-
- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
After his wife Carrie dies, Jack originally has her consciousness uploaded to his own brain as code. Once this solution is deemed unworkable, he has the coding of her consciousness transferred into a digital monkey toy which is gifted to their son Parker so that Carrie can continue to spend time with him. However, Carrie can only communicate in a binary manner, having access to only 2 phrases to express happiness or unhappiness.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Digitally Immortal Vessels and Eternity
After his wife Carrie dies, Jack originally has her consciousness uploaded to his own brain as code. Once this solution is deemed unworkable, he has the coding of her consciousness transferred into a digital monkey toy which is gifted to their son Parker so that Carrie can continue to spend time with him. However, Carrie can only communicate in a binary manner, having access to only 2 phrases to express happiness or unhappiness.
How can developers of digital immortality technology ensure that it is ethical from the get-go? Can something like this ever be “piloted” when lives are at stake? How can people ensure that digital lives do not last for true eternity, especially if those existences are mundane? How can humans keep control of their existences in concepts such as this?
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Museum curator Rolo shows off the exhibition of Clayton, a former death row inmate whose consciousness became digital during one of Rolo’s experiments. Despite evidence of his innocence, Clayton was put to death, and his digitally immortal consciousness was subjected to torture inside Rolo’s museum, with guests being able to simulate the electric chair shock on the holographic Clayton and eventually putting him in a conscious but vegetative state. Clayton’s daughter Nish shows up to settle the score, trapping Rolo in an eternal state of torture in a small digital device.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Technological Tortures and Traps
Museum curator Rolo shows off the exhibition of Clayton, a former death row inmate whose consciousness became digital during one of Rolo’s experiments. Despite evidence of his innocence, Clayton was put to death, and his digitally immortal consciousness was subjected to torture inside Rolo’s museum, with guests being able to simulate the electric chair shock on the holographic Clayton and eventually putting him in a conscious but vegetative state. Clayton’s daughter Nish shows up to settle the score, trapping Rolo in an eternal state of torture in a small digital device.
How can one protect their digital consciousness after they pass away? Can anyone ever be fully trusted to handle codes or programs that represent someone else’s existence or consciousness? How does the existence of racial bias and violence make the concept of eternal digital consciousnesses far more harrowing?
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- 15 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Danny, Karl, and Theo are a trio of friends who all once lived together. In their adult years, after Danny and Theo have married, Karl gifts Danny with the most recent release of their favorite fighting video game, Striking Vipers X. In this virtual reality simulation, Danny and Karl are able to become their avatars, Lance and Roxette respectively, and feel pain and pleasure in the virtual world through them. After the avatars begin to form an intimate connection within the virtual reality video game, Danny, Theo, and Karl find themselves needing to negotiate new terms of their relationships with one another, struggling to find if connections in the virtual world can coexist with connections in the real world.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 15 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Relationships and Exploration of Identity in Virtual Worlds
Danny, Karl, and Theo are a trio of friends who all once lived together. In their adult years, after Danny and Theo have married, Karl gifts Danny with the most recent release of their favorite fighting video game, Striking Vipers X. In this virtual reality simulation, Danny and Karl are able to become their avatars, Lance and Roxette respectively, and feel pain and pleasure in the virtual world through them. After the avatars begin to form an intimate connection within the virtual reality video game, Danny, Theo, and Karl find themselves needing to negotiate new terms of their relationships with one another, struggling to find if connections in the virtual world can coexist with connections in the real world.
How do virtual reality worlds allow humans to explore aspects of their sexual or gender identities that they may not have the opportunity to discover in the real world? Do the seemingly limitless possibilities for connection with digital technologies and virtual realities innately pose a threat to the landscape of long term relationships? Should concepts such as sex be built into virtual realities? If it is assumed that the reality is fake and the avatars are distinct from their controllers, do Danny’s actions count as infidelity?
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Celebrity Autonomy, Producer Tyranny, and Holographic Performances
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
How can celebrities keep their autonomy when producers can easily replicate them or their performances? How can musicians and other performers continue to keep a share of credit or profit when producers can easily co-opt their art? Should this technology be used to “extend the life” of musicians, allowing for holographic performances even after they pass away? What are the ethical questions raised with this concept? Should digital consciousnesses be fundamentally limited, especially when they are based on real people? How would this improperly shape the image of a celebrity, either before or after their death?
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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?