Themes (326)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
FILTERreset filters-
- 2 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. Tom, the son of the Feed’s creator Lawrence, realizes that his father had deleted some of his childhood memories from the device in his brain, thus Tom has lost all access to them. For further insights into technology and the nature of parent-child relationships, see the narratives “Marie and Sara Parts I and II.”
- Kinolab
- 2019
-
- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Personal Control over Memories
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. Tom, the son of the Feed’s creator Lawrence, realizes that his father had deleted some of his childhood memories from the device in his brain, thus Tom has lost all access to them. For further insights into technology and the nature of parent-child relationships, see the narratives “Marie and Sara Parts I and II.”
What rights do parents have over the minds and bodies of their children? Should parents ever be able to alter the memories of their children, even if this is supposedly for their own good? What are the consequences of the externalisation of memory through digital technology? How should children be able to give consent for alterations to technological implants?
The Feed: Tom's Childhood Mundles-
- 5 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. Lawrence, the CEO of the tech monopoly which created the Feed, explains to his son Tom that the newest model of the Feed is a quasi-organic implant which automatically appears in the makeup of an infant’s brain; they are born with it, having no say in whether or not it should be there and being unable to remove it. Lawrence and Tom then debate the pros and cons of this approach.
- Kinolab
- 2019
-
- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Genetic Implants and Choice
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. Lawrence, the CEO of the tech monopoly which created the Feed, explains to his son Tom that the newest model of the Feed is a quasi-organic implant which automatically appears in the makeup of an infant’s brain; they are born with it, having no say in whether or not it should be there and being unable to remove it. Lawrence and Tom then debate the pros and cons of this approach.
Which side presented here do you tend to agree with more? Does Lawrence have a point in stating that the opportunity for anyone to innately have this implant might solve problems such as inequity and chaos? Does Tom have a point in stating that agency and autonomy of all people are at risk in this new imagination of society? Does one of these viewpoints outweigh the other? Should tech monopolies be able to determine what “societal progress” means, even if they have the means to achieve their specific vision? Can tech monopolies alone be trusted to make progress in trying to make the world a more equitable place?
-
- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2020
Nora works as an “angel” figure, or assistant, in the digital afterlife known as Lakeview. Her job is to help digitally immortal residents of this afterlife, such as Nathan, acclimate to their surroundings and their digital existences. However, Nora decides to take her breaks from work in the same virtual reality in which she operates during her job.
- Kinolab
- 2020
-
- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2020
Real vs. Virtual Assistance
Nora works as an “angel” figure, or assistant, in the digital afterlife known as Lakeview. Her job is to help digitally immortal residents of this afterlife, such as Nathan, acclimate to their surroundings and their digital existences. However, Nora decides to take her breaks from work in the same virtual reality in which she operates during her job.
Should virtual reality spaces be operated, moderated, and served by human customer service reps, to ensure the best experience? Or is it possible to automate customer service too? How might virtual assistants such as Siri change the nature of people’s relationships with human service reps? Should the people who work on VR projects be given special access to it? Could VR worlds be used as a viable way for employees to relax during breaks?
-
- 2 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. In this narrative, Max, a citizen whose Feed was hacked, has to get the device removed from his body as his best friends watch. This procedure includes the removal of some of his memories from both his brain and from the device, although they manage to upload these into a cloud.
- Kinolab
- 2019
-
- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Implanted Technology and Disconnection
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. In this narrative, Max, a citizen whose Feed was hacked, has to get the device removed from his body as his best friends watch. This procedure includes the removal of some of his memories from both his brain and from the device, although they manage to upload these into a cloud.
What are the risks involved with brain-computer interfaces, especially when we need to ‘remove’ them from our brains? How might this increase medical costs? How can memory and consciousness be ‘backed up’ and ‘uploaded’ back into our bodies using advanced technology?
-
- 5 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. In this narrative, Ben, a member of the family who owns the company which created the Feed, uses the augmented reality features to create a virtual version of his ex-wife, Miyu, who he can make indulge in his own fantasies, regardless of what those may be. Eventually, this digital version of Miyu starts to glitch, but Ben nonetheless begins to share this virtual, subservient clone to other people to use in their own fantasies.
- Kinolab
- 2019
-
- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
VR Intimacy and Objectification
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. In this narrative, Ben, a member of the family who owns the company which created the Feed, uses the augmented reality features to create a virtual version of his ex-wife, Miyu, who he can make indulge in his own fantasies, regardless of what those may be. Eventually, this digital version of Miyu starts to glitch, but Ben nonetheless begins to share this virtual, subservient clone to other people to use in their own fantasies.
How are women deprived of autonomy when men are able to control virtual versions of women in their own digital fantasies? How exactly would the consequences of this infect the real world? Is it ethical to use someone’s image and likeness for private purposes without their consent? How can we ‘copyright’ our own image?
-
- 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
-
- 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?