Re: 9. Final Project: "Expand the Vision"
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:21 pm
"Collective Brain"
mind uploading and neuroimaging technologies
The Collective Brain utilizes the hypothetical process of mind uploading, in which an individual's brain is mapped in great detail and copied to a computational device. This process creates an artificial brain that would theoretically behave in a faithful manner to its original.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors' brains are mapped out using MRI and SPECT technology. A randomly assigned section from each visitor's brain is selected to be entered into the Collective Brain. Although portions of the viewers' minds make up the Collective Brain, it is an autonomous entity that can produce its own thoughts.
After getting their brains scanned, viewers walk into a movie theater-like setting, where they can sit down and watch the image of the projected Collective Brain. By entering questions or statements into the keyboards that accompany each chair, participants can interact with the group mind - however, as it is its own thinker, it can choose to ignore or acknowledge the viewers' input.
Every time the Collective Brain has a thought, it is displayed on the screen, opposite which are the statements and questions entered in by the audience themselves. In the middle is an image of the Collective Brain. Each thought it has requires using one or multiple sections of the brain, which light up on the image as the thought is being processed and displayed on the screen. As each section of the brain corresponds to a viewer/participant in the room, all thoughts being displayed on the screen have direct links to individual audience members. So, when a thought is being produced using a given individual's section of the brain, their keyboard lights up to indicate that the Collective Brain is utilizing their hypothalamus, for example, to talk about an emotional memory or thought (the hypothalamus is the section of the brain that regulates primitive emotion).
Interaction with and observation of the Collective Brain allows viewers/participants to learn about the connections between the mechanical and natural mind. It also prompts them to think about group dynamics and the way in which individuals can greatly affect the nature of group discourse. It also raises broad philosophical questions regarding the existence and authenticity of the human mind.
mind uploading and neuroimaging technologies
The Collective Brain utilizes the hypothetical process of mind uploading, in which an individual's brain is mapped in great detail and copied to a computational device. This process creates an artificial brain that would theoretically behave in a faithful manner to its original.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors' brains are mapped out using MRI and SPECT technology. A randomly assigned section from each visitor's brain is selected to be entered into the Collective Brain. Although portions of the viewers' minds make up the Collective Brain, it is an autonomous entity that can produce its own thoughts.
After getting their brains scanned, viewers walk into a movie theater-like setting, where they can sit down and watch the image of the projected Collective Brain. By entering questions or statements into the keyboards that accompany each chair, participants can interact with the group mind - however, as it is its own thinker, it can choose to ignore or acknowledge the viewers' input.
Every time the Collective Brain has a thought, it is displayed on the screen, opposite which are the statements and questions entered in by the audience themselves. In the middle is an image of the Collective Brain. Each thought it has requires using one or multiple sections of the brain, which light up on the image as the thought is being processed and displayed on the screen. As each section of the brain corresponds to a viewer/participant in the room, all thoughts being displayed on the screen have direct links to individual audience members. So, when a thought is being produced using a given individual's section of the brain, their keyboard lights up to indicate that the Collective Brain is utilizing their hypothalamus, for example, to talk about an emotional memory or thought (the hypothalamus is the section of the brain that regulates primitive emotion).
Interaction with and observation of the Collective Brain allows viewers/participants to learn about the connections between the mechanical and natural mind. It also prompts them to think about group dynamics and the way in which individuals can greatly affect the nature of group discourse. It also raises broad philosophical questions regarding the existence and authenticity of the human mind.