As part of my research into perceptual illusions, I looked into The ‘Rubber Hand Experiment’. This is a classic low tech experiment that can help us "understand how sight, touch and “proprioception” the sense of body position, combine to create a convincing feeling of body ownership, one of the foundations of self-consciousness (Nature 1998, vol 391, p 756 )”. Recent studies have gone on to experimentally induct of out of body experiences or create body swap illusions. See the work of Henrik Ehrsson and Olaf Blanke. [see link http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-08/ucl-foe081407.php ] I invited some psychologists to the studio [including Lizzi Lewis of BEAM Lab and Paul Sermon] who I have expertise in this area, they brought presentations and some kit to
Month: October 2017
Clay hand experiment #1
Working again with Lizzi Lewis of BEAM Lab and Manchester Science Museum we developed a workshop based on the 'Rubber Hand Experiment'. As we had to work with a large number of people and we didn't have funding to get loads of rubber hands. So we made the hands in the workshop with clay and used gloves full of different materials, sand, gel, lentils, etc. This had some interesting outcomes, that warranted further research... As you can see the hands were diverse in form, for the illusion to be effective the hand does not need to be true to life necessarily. Some hands were made purposefully alien for experiments and seemed to work effectively. I wondered if participants are more likely
Workshopology
During my visit to Ljubljana in I was introduced to the ‘Workshopology’ concept and network. The idea is to bring together like-minded ‘Workshopologist’ to discuss methods and best practice in this area. More specifically the participants are dealing with similar subject matter. Open-source collaborative approaches to teaching and learning in DIY electronics, science and biotech. Taking part are Artist, engineers bio-hackers and scientist and various other creative ‘workshopologists’. We discussed the workshop as a tool for delivering and sharing knowledge outside of traditional educational frameworks, how types of workshop can be categorised and analysed. Outside of my own personal workshop practice, it was interesting to think about iLog workshop as a take on the electronics kit where limitations are provided as
The Sensorium of Animals
Electroreception in Experimental and Historical Media and Design Research. I was pleased to be invited to take part in this project along with an interesting selection of artists working with sound animals and the invisible world of signals as well as a cognitive neuroscientist and an expert in electric fish... "This research project explores the possibilities of technology-mediated systems to alter the human sensory apparatus from artistic-experimental and media historical angles. One part of this research focuses on possibilities of expanding the human sensory system beyond its biological limits, taking inspiration from sensorial abilities found in certain animals. Artistic-experimental systems, for instance in the field of wearable technology, will be tried out, researched and made available. The other part of this research