discussion with some trepidation since the prevalent absorption of the
contributors up until now seems to have been in a juxtaposition of the
concept "cyborg" with the physically embodied biological, materially
manifest organism, whereas mine lies in the immaterially material
aspect of "cyborg" as the "body in code", (Hansen, 2003) i.e., the
avatar as a 3 dimensionally embodied being in virtual worlds.
Cyborg as a self-regulating human-machine system is, of course,
intrinsically bound up with cybernetics. Halacy has pointed out in as
early as 1965 that the feedback loop inherent in the system would be
the one that "resides in the relationship between 'inner space' to
'outer space' in an abstract space which forms a bridge between mind
and matter". and it is this "bridge-space" which I find utterly
fascinating, when it comes to coming to grips with the 3 dimensionally
embodied avatar. The avatar of virtual worlds is a being whose
appearance and way of being, role in life, indeed very identity is
decided upon entirely by the human handler behind the keyboard. As
such, the creation of avatars and alt avatars as personas and
identities of a person and the bridge-cyborg state inherent in the
process, seems to me to be one of the most open areas of creative
activity today: We are in a position to create and re-create our
selves and many multiples and facets of our selves, interacting with
others, indeed becoming firmly enmeshed in a virtual social life,
complete with joy, sorrow, friendships, loves, losses, gains and
rivalries in a 3 dimensional/immersive world, thus spinning back input
into the feedback loops of our psychic system(s) both Real and Virtual.
http://npirl.blogspot.com/2009/05/semiautonomous-puppet-architectonics.html
Research in Presence studies and cyberpsychology do indeed show that
there is considerable evidence to suggest that there exists a strong
mutual feedback loop between the activities and manifestation of
immaterially embodied, mechanically engendered 3 dimensional body of
the avatar of virtual worlds and the human handler sitting behind the
keyboard. In his groundbreaking study entitled The Proteus Effect,
Nick Yee has demonstrated empirically that not only do our virtual
bodies change how we interact with others in the online communities
themselves; but that this effect is indeed powerful enough to be
carried through to subsequent face-to-face interactions amongst the
physical handlers of the avatars participating in the experiment.
A rewarding overview of the literature on the avatar within the
context of embodiment comes from Benjamin Joerissen according to whom
viewing avatars as mere representational agents in virtual realms has
become increasingly problematic over the past decade. Instead a
holistic approach which weaves together the embodiment of the human
handler, the representation thereof and the medium within which this
representation materializes seems to be called for: In describing this
hybrid actor whose virtual sojourn is a two way experience which can
have profound influences on the human behind the keyboard, Joerissen
quotes Yee: "Just as we choose our self-representations in virtual
environments, our self representations shape our behaviors in turn.
These changes happen not over weeks, but within minutes".
Joerissen also quotes Mark Hansen who points at a deep reaching
biological/corporeal moment embedded within the virtual experience:
Whilst placing the digital experience itself within the sensory organs
of the biological body, Hansen ascribes a third element to digital
embodiment, speaking of a "body submitted to and constituted by an
unavoidable and empowering technical deterritorialization", a
"body-in-code", which can only be realized in association with
technology, and which, in its turn, can lead to unexpected
self-perceptions in the human handler. Indeed Hansen endows this novel
constellation with the capability of increasing the field of influence
of the human operator "as an embodied being". Thus, Hansen predicts a
re-definition of the potential of the biological body through
(electro-mechanically engendered) virtual embodiment.
Thus to me, this is where the future of cyborg is headed, away from
the material body to novel forms of manifestation, ones which bind
mind and matter, as well as non-matter, in feedback loops no less
powerful in their impact for lack of a physical body.
Identity and ethnicity within this context would also require novel
approaches and indeed possibly even new definitions altogether: While
the Real Life affiliations regarding gender, sex,
national/ethnic/cultural identity, age and material status seem to
recede into the background under the cloaks of concealment which the
virtual self provides (Boelstorff, 2008): As an example, one of the
reasons why the instigation of "voice" as a medium of communication in
virtual worlds such as Second Life refuses to gain a strong foothold
is that voice would disclose the physical affiliations/attributes of
the human handler behind the avatar to an extent that type chatter
obviously does not do - which in a world where at least 40% of the
Residents are deemed to be transgender would prove to be undesirable
to say the least. However, as physical affiliations lose their
importance, novel and powerful affiliations are making their presence
felt in virtual worlds: New nations (eg: "The Furry Nation" of Second
Life), new political/social identities manifested in virtual societies
and groups pursuing their virtual agendas, which may or may not be
related to physical concerns. Indeed an entirely novel economic
system, i.e., metanomics, provides a new infrastructure to the
acquisition of financial/social status, furthermore one which is
almost always entirely independent of the avatar's Real Life status at
that. A good example would be the disastrous lack of success which
real life businesses such as L'Oreal, Nike and Adidas have had to
contend with in Second Life, which is generating it's own brands and
(NPIRL/not possible in real life) products at a breathtaking rate -
indeed to the point where an academic publication addressing the
issues surrounding metaverse creativity are called for at this moment
in time, of which I am in fact, very proud to be the chief editor of
(http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-Journal,id=179/). In
short, not a homogeneous utopia, but a world every bit as diverse as
the physical one which we all inhabit, however one with novel/and
almost always self-defined/decided upon affiliations, concerns and
discussions...
And to end this mouthful of a post on a bit of a light note (and yes,
I am Alpha Auer in Second Life, the author of both the blog posts
linked to here:
http://npirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/virtual-prostheses.html
Isn't it utter irony that the 3D avatar, a being ultimately completely
independent of physical extensions in the demonstration of its powers,
should still exert such creative energy in the development virtual
prostheses as objects of social status manifesting as gadgets of
creativity?... ;-)
On Fri 24 Jul 2009 17:50:50 EEST, Joseph Ingoldsby wrote:
> Annick Bureaud:
>
> Every species has evolved means of surveillance, communication and security
> to survive, including ourselves. The adaptive mechanisms are quite
> remarkable from the sonar of bats to the jamming of the signal by moths.
> Dolphins and whales also have the ability to see in darkness using sonar to
> read the seascape and other organisms of the deep. Their complex language
> and calls can be heard from great distances through the conductive waters.
> I would not call their traits mechanized nor call them cyborgs. They are
> sensitized to their environment internally. Their use and enslavement by
> humans for warfare and surveillance is a cruel use of neutral species for
> our self-destructive and regressive human nature. Humaneness in humans often
> seems a misnomer. How can we channel our gifts in a constructive way to
> problem solve? We are not superior beings independent of nature but are part
> of the interconnected web of life. There is a difference of philosophy
> between the consumerist cultures and those that respect the rights of the
> land. Readers should be aware that the Indigenous peoples of the world are
> speaking to each other and have formed a union. In Ecuador this was
> translated into the Rights of Nature written into their Constitution.
> http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/09/ecuador_grants_rights_to
> _natur.html
> http://www.celdf.org/Ordinances/RightsofNatureOrdinance/tabid/133/Default.as
> px
> Indigenous people often have specialized abilities honed from centuries of
> use. These traits include the ability to read the landscape without maps,
> telepathic communication, interspecies communication, and communion with the
> spirit world. The Shaman often served as a conduit to these inner and outer
> worlds. As humans we live only a fraction of our potential. This is what I
> meant when I mentioned the enhancement of our inner world and our
> relationship to the outer world. Until we as a species are able to
> emotionally develop, we will continue to use tools-cyborg, drones and
> mechanical enhancements in a destructive way. Thankfully, there are
> individuals, institutions and collectives who are pooling their talent
> constructively in a holistic way to address global problems.
>
> Joseph Ingoldsby
> Landscape Mosaics
>
>
> On 7/23/09 9:50 AM, "Annick Bureaud" <abureaud@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Yasminers,
>>
>> As you are getting some posts from me, you understand that I
>> am "unpiling" my mail ;-)))
>>
>> One question : can we consider the seals and other marine
>> mamals fully equiped with sensors and instruments and that
>> "monitor" for us the antarctic deep waters as cyborgs ?
>>
>> Annick
>
>
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elif ayiter
Sabanci University
FASS VACD
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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: click on the link to the list you wish to subscribe to. In the page that will appear ("info page"), enter e-mail address, name, and password in the fields found further down the page.
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