Transparency and Explainability (49)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
In this episode, Bing Madsen is one of many citizens who provide power to the digital world through spending each day on a stationery bike, which earns him “merits” to spend on both leisure activities and necessities. These laborers, along with all other classes, are constantly surrounded by screens in which their digital avatars can participate in virtual activities like biking on a road or being in a “live” studio audience. The reality competition show “Hot Shot” is one program streamed on these screens. In this narrative, Bing’s friend Abi auditions for the show as a singer, but is instead coerced by the mass audience into signing as a pornstar for one of the judge’s companies.
- Kinolab
- 2011
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
Digital Media and the Commodification of Women’s Bodies
In this episode, Bing Madsen is one of many citizens who provide power to the digital world through spending each day on a stationery bike, which earns him “merits” to spend on both leisure activities and necessities. These laborers, along with all other classes, are constantly surrounded by screens in which their digital avatars can participate in virtual activities like biking on a road or being in a “live” studio audience. The reality competition show “Hot Shot” is one program streamed on these screens. In this narrative, Bing’s friend Abi auditions for the show as a singer, but is instead coerced by the mass audience into signing as a pornstar for one of the judge’s companies.
In what ways have digital technologies made sexual harassment worse, and how can this be solved? How does being digitally separated from others make people less empathetic and push them to engage in mob mentality? How do digital technologies like social networks sometimes deprive people of autonomy over their bodies? How can users of digital technologies ensure that any sexually explicit content they produce remains in their ownership and control? What problems arise from the pornography industry experiencing such growth in the digital age?
Black Mirror : Bing Wakes Up-
- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Danny is a teenager who has become so addicted to the cacophony of entertainment coming through the Feed that he is unable to interact with people in the real world once everything in his Feed is turned off.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Digital Withdrawal
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Danny is a teenager who has become so addicted to the cacophony of entertainment coming through the Feed that he is unable to interact with people in the real world once everything in his Feed is turned off.
What are the potential consequences of getting teenagers addicted to virtual ways of interacting with content and with each other? How might this impact their ability to relate to other people in the real world? How do brain-computer interfaces which give constant, unbridled access to such entertainment and social networks exacerbate this problem? Will it become necessary in the future to “re-teach” young people how to interact offline?
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
In the 2050s, humans are able to connect their brains to an implanted digital device known as a “grain,” which stores all of their individual audiovisual memories and allows for instant replays or closer analysis of any stored memories. Liam Foxwell, one such user, discusses these devices with some friends at dinner, and later uses the data collected at this party to scrutinize his wife’s interactions with Jonas, a crude man who uses the grain for contemptible purposes. With these memories, he confronts his wife and demands objective truth from her.
- Kinolab
- 2011
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
Digital Memory, Stored Interactions, and the Inability to Forget
In the 2050s, humans are able to connect their brains to an implanted digital device known as a “grain,” which stores all of their individual audiovisual memories and allows for instant replays or closer analysis of any stored memories. Liam Foxwell, one such user, discusses these devices with some friends at dinner, and later uses the data collected at this party to scrutinize his wife’s interactions with Jonas, a crude man who uses the grain for contemptible purposes. With these memories, he confronts his wife and demands objective truth from her.
What are the consequences of combining the fallibility of human memory with the precision of digital technology? How does over-analysis of digitally stored memories or interactions lead to anxiety or conflict in the real world? What are the dangers of placing our personal memories into a context where they can be stolen or hacked or sold? In the digital age, is anyone truly able to forget anything? How is human judgement and agency impacted by digital memory?
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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?
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- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
In this brief clip, Matt explains that he was once “blocked” by his wife in real life. In this society, mostly everyone possesses a brain-computer interface. and are thus able to remove anyone they please from their experience of society and the world.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
The Realism and Consequences of “Blocking”
In this brief clip, Matt explains that he was once “blocked” by his wife in real life. In this society, mostly everyone possesses a brain-computer interface. and are thus able to remove anyone they please from their experience of society and the world.
Does “blocking” people in the digital world translate well to the real world? Is it realistic for humans to always be able to avoid people they don’t wish to see? What might people miss out on if they block everyone who they deem unfit of their attention? Do the positives of being able to block people in the digital world outweigh the negatives, or vice versa, or neither?
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 2016
In a world in which social media is constantly visible, and in which the averaged five star rating for each person based on every single one of their interactions with others are displayed, Lacie tries to move into the higher echelons of society. She does this by consistently keeping up saccharine appearances in real life and on her social media feed because everyone is constantly connected to this technology. Once she is spurred to up her rating, Lacie gets an invite to a high-profile wedding. However, after a few unfortunate events leave her seeming less desirable to others, thus lowering her rating, she finds her world far less accessible and kind. For further reading and real-life connections, see the narrative “Inside China’s Vast New Experiment in Social Ranking.”
- Kinolab
- 2016
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 2016
Lacie Part I: Translating Online Interactions and Social Quantification
In a world in which social media is constantly visible, and in which the averaged five star rating for each person based on every single one of their interactions with others are displayed, Lacie tries to move into the higher echelons of society. She does this by consistently keeping up saccharine appearances in real life and on her social media feed because everyone is constantly connected to this technology. Once she is spurred to up her rating, Lacie gets an invite to a high-profile wedding. However, after a few unfortunate events leave her seeming less desirable to others, thus lowering her rating, she finds her world far less accessible and kind. For further reading and real-life connections, see the narrative “Inside China’s Vast New Experiment in Social Ranking.”
How do digital platforms promote inauthenticity? Why do appearances matter more in the digital age? Can digital technologies ever truly perfectly mirror an in-person interaction? Do the shallower ways in which people communicate online translate well into the real world? How could digital social platforms do better at promoting longer connection instead of the instant gratification of likes or ratings? Should social media platforms be so focused on quantifying interactions, in terms of likes or comments or followers? How can this quantification be de-emphasized?