Networking, Capital, and Cloud Computing (58)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
A CGI bear named Waldo is created using computer technology which sees the facial expressions of a comedian and renders it in real-time onto a screen. He is able to insult politicians with little retribution perhaps in part because he does not appear human. This power is harnessed by executives to put up Waldo as a candidate in a political race, where he is able to take part in a debate with real people and does not seem beholden to the same standards. Eventually, Waldo’s “driver” Jamie reveals his own identity, but Waldo continues on as a figure through embodying the voice of another worker in the company.
- Kinolab
- 2013
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
Politics and Digital Mouthpieces
A CGI bear named Waldo is created using computer technology which sees the facial expressions of a comedian and renders it in real-time onto a screen. He is able to insult politicians with little retribution perhaps in part because he does not appear human. This power is harnessed by executives to put up Waldo as a candidate in a political race, where he is able to take part in a debate with real people and does not seem beholden to the same standards. Eventually, Waldo’s “driver” Jamie reveals his own identity, but Waldo continues on as a figure through embodying the voice of another worker in the company.
How do digital media, specifically social media platforms, allow critical and political voices to hide behind some wall of anonymity? Can digital abstractions of real political figures be considered to actually fully embody the person or candidate themself, especially when other staffers usually run their accounts? How do digital platforms change the nature of relationships between politicians and citizens in terms of direct communication? Does hiding behind digital platforms make it easier for anyone to make bold claims and statements?
Black Mirror: Waldo on TV-
- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
In this vignette, Matt describes his backstory as a member of an online community who used technology called “Z-eyes” to walk each other through activities such as flirting with women at bars. The Z-eyes technology directly streams all audiovisual data which his friend Harry experiences to his screen, and Matt is additionally able to use facial recognition and information searches to offer background information which enhances Harry’s plays.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Vicarious Digital Living
In this vignette, Matt describes his backstory as a member of an online community who used technology called “Z-eyes” to walk each other through activities such as flirting with women at bars. The Z-eyes technology directly streams all audiovisual data which his friend Harry experiences to his screen, and Matt is additionally able to use facial recognition and information searches to offer background information which enhances Harry’s plays.
What are some problems with technology such as this being invisible, in terms of privacy? Could this have legitimate therapeutic purposes, such as being a treatment for social anxiety? How should technology like Z-eyes be regulated?
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Matt tells Joe Potter about how he used to train uploaded consciousnesses to take care of people’s homes. After somebody’s brain is copied and uploaded onto a cookie, the copy is often unwilling to perform the menial tasks asked of them. However, once the consciousness is inside the “cookie,” time can be manipulated however the real people see fit in order to coerce cooperation for the coded digital consciousness.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Repetitive Code as a Menial Laborer
Matt tells Joe Potter about how he used to train uploaded consciousnesses to take care of people’s homes. After somebody’s brain is copied and uploaded onto a cookie, the copy is often unwilling to perform the menial tasks asked of them. However, once the consciousness is inside the “cookie,” time can be manipulated however the real people see fit in order to coerce cooperation for the coded digital consciousness.
Can we upload consciousness in order to make our lives easier? How do we ethically treat a digital consciousness? How can digital beings be put to good use in our lives? As AI potentially become more humanoid, is it justifiable to continue assigning them long repetitive tasks?
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- 15 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Detective Shazia Akhand is assigned to investigate the case of a man who was hit by a pizza truck in the street to help him build a case. She uses a brain-computer interface to read the memories of both the man hit by the truck and other witnesses, where the vague, abstract images are projected onto a screen. One of these witnesses includes Mia, a serial killer whose former crimes are revealed during her interview. In order to erase any footage or evidence of her murders, Mia continues her killing spree by wiping out Shazia and her family. However, Mia is eventually caught through the memories of an unlikely source.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 15 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Digital Memory Projection and Walking Surveillance Cameras
Detective Shazia Akhand is assigned to investigate the case of a man who was hit by a pizza truck in the street to help him build a case. She uses a brain-computer interface to read the memories of both the man hit by the truck and other witnesses, where the vague, abstract images are projected onto a screen. One of these witnesses includes Mia, a serial killer whose former crimes are revealed during her interview. In order to erase any footage or evidence of her murders, Mia continues her killing spree by wiping out Shazia and her family. However, Mia is eventually caught through the memories of an unlikely source.
Should police or detectives be able to view memories for interrogation reasons? Where should the line be drawn in these cases? What are the issues with tasking precise digital technologies with extracting and showing abstract memories? How could this technology be manipulated to make subjective memories seem objective? How might this sort of technology makes witnesses to crimes more targeted? How is this concept similar and different to the idea that anyone could accidentally or intentionally be capturing anything on a phone camera? Should technology be created that essentially allows anyone to be a walking surveillance camera?
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Single mother Marie pays to have Arkangel, a brain-computer interface, installed into her daughter Sara. With this implant, Marie is able to not only track Sara’s location at all times, but can also access a feed of the audiovisual data which Sara is experiencing at any moment. Marie also has the power to censor this sensory input, controlling what Sara sees and hiding stressful stimuli from her view. Of course, this eventually has negative impacts on Sara’s psychology and social life.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Marie and Sara Part I: Helicopter Parenting and Child Development
Single mother Marie pays to have Arkangel, a brain-computer interface, installed into her daughter Sara. With this implant, Marie is able to not only track Sara’s location at all times, but can also access a feed of the audiovisual data which Sara is experiencing at any moment. Marie also has the power to censor this sensory input, controlling what Sara sees and hiding stressful stimuli from her view. Of course, this eventually has negative impacts on Sara’s psychology and social life.
Should parents be allowed to use digital technology to censor or filter the world which surrounds their child? How can parental controls decrease exposure and affect development of children? How would this technology negatively impact the pyschology and societal expectations surrounding parenting? Should anyone ever have the power to edit someone’s brain, and thus their perception of reality? In what ways to digital technologies make it easier and harder to shelter children?
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Single mother Marie pays to have Arkangel, a brain-computer interface, installed into her daughter Sara. With this implant, Marie is able to not only track Sara’s location at all times, but can also access a feed of the audiovisual data which Sara is experiencing at any moment. After avoiding the system for a long time, Marie brings her Arkangel tablet back out to track and surveil Sara during her teenage years, going so far as to intervene in her love and social lives after watching the feed during intimate and private moments for Sara. Once Sara finds out, she revolts. For further reading, see the narrative “On TikTok, Teens Meme the Safety App Ruining Their Summer”
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Marie and Sara Part II: Helicopter Parenting and Young Adult Independence
Single mother Marie pays to have Arkangel, a brain-computer interface, installed into her daughter Sara. With this implant, Marie is able to not only track Sara’s location at all times, but can also access a feed of the audiovisual data which Sara is experiencing at any moment. After avoiding the system for a long time, Marie brings her Arkangel tablet back out to track and surveil Sara during her teenage years, going so far as to intervene in her love and social lives after watching the feed during intimate and private moments for Sara. Once Sara finds out, she revolts. For further reading, see the narrative “On TikTok, Teens Meme the Safety App Ruining Their Summer”
How do technologies that allow parents to surveil and track teenagers prevent these young adults from self-exploration and actualization? Is it possible to design location tracking services that allow for safety without diminishing privacy or autonomy? What would this look like? In what ways do digital technologies make the teenage experience more and less free than it was before the digital age?