I dont obsess over the newest phones or tablets. What fascinates me is how technology shapes our human experience by triggering powerful emotions, guiding our cognitive processes and filtering our perceptions of the world. Why do some humanoid robots or animated film characters creep people out? Why have U.S. soldiers risked their lives to save stranded battlefield robots under enemy fire? Why do virtual reality headsets such as Oculus Rift feel like a magical wonderland to some people and make other people physically ill?
This blog is about finding those stories of how humans experience technology. I plan to look at issues such as the love/hate relationship we have with robots, why Disney-Pixars latest animated characters won (or lost) audiences at the movie theater, how people form relationships within online games, and the experience of using a prosthetic arm or leg. For instance, I may examine the digital resurrection of a fallen Hollywood actor or the fan idolization of a virtual pop star in Japan. At other times, I could consider how drones have shaped the experience of war for both soldiers and civilians, or whether drivers are willing to trust a new generation of self-driving robot cars from Google and other companies.
Part of my vision for this blog comes from having spent my college years studying the history and sociology of science an academic field that tries to understand science in the context of its people, institutions and broader society. But Im also leveraging almost seven years of experience as a science and technology journalist who has written for publications such as Scientific American, Popular Science, IEEE Spectrum, SPACE.com and LiveScience.
I hope the blog name Lovesick Cyborg gives some sense of what to expect here. I tend to prefer the looser definition of the word cyborg that describes anyone who interacts with even the simplest technologies, meaning all of us. But the word cyborg also evokes a science fiction vision of the future where humans and technology have forged an even closer relationship than before within the same body. That may either excite or scare you, but either way Ill try to give a heads up so that nobody is left surprised.
As for lovesick, I really wanted a word that could remind us of how technology can affect both our minds and bodies. But were already seeing how some people really cant bear to be parted with their smartphones and tablets for even a day.
If these kinds of issues tickle your cyborg brain, welcome aboard! Im looking forward to bringing you much more to come in the near future.
Image by Inozemtsev Konstantin / Shutterstock
Go here to see the original:
- Upload your Real body to a Virtual Avatar ! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Transcendent Consciousness for Transcendent Technologies : Part I - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Transcendent Consciousness for Transcendent Technologies: Part II - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
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- Touch and Go - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cyborg Mystic - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Avatar..a great movie ! - January 31st, 2010 [January 31st, 2010]
- Iron Man 2 and the cyborg technology offshoots - June 11th, 2010 [June 11th, 2010]
- Saving the "Humanism" in Transhumanism - June 13th, 2010 [June 13th, 2010]
- Christina is Bionic - June 22nd, 2010 [June 22nd, 2010]
- My recent article in IEET - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- REASONS FOR LOVE AND HOPE TO OTHER SPECIES IN THE POSTHUMAN FUTURE - February 14th, 2011 [February 14th, 2011]
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- Hugh Laurie - Hugh Laurie To Play Robocop Villain - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Hugh Laurie set to play villain in Robocop remake - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Hugh Laurie is being lined up to star in 'RoboCop' - June 14th, 2012 [June 14th, 2012]
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- Cris Cyborg and Sarah Kaufman Mean Mugging on Fight Promo Video: Fan Reaction - June 18th, 2012 [June 18th, 2012]
- Amped Shows the Downside of Becoming a Cyborg - June 18th, 2012 [June 18th, 2012]
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- SDCC 2012: Nightwing and Cyborg Join 'Injustice: Gods Among Us' - July 12th, 2012 [July 12th, 2012]
- NEWS: Cyborg and Nightwing Revealed for Injustice: Gods Among Us - July 12th, 2012 [July 12th, 2012]
- 'Injustice' reveals Cyborg and Nightwing - July 13th, 2012 [July 13th, 2012]
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