Project

Theme | Experiential Integration of Humans and Computers

Copyright

Fluid Interfaces

Fluid Interfaces

With the expansion of intelligent and ubiquitous computers everywhere, we have in many ways become cognitive cyborgs: most of us are inseparable from our personal devices and increasingly rely on them in our thinking, memorization, learning, communication, etc. However, while these devices significantly improve the functional capabilities and performance of our brain and body, they are still not experienced similarly to the phenomenology of processes in our brain and body, that is, by being felt a certain way. Decision making, for instance, is not just about arriving at a conclusion through systematic thinking; it involves among other things “intuitions”, “gut-feelings”, and different degrees of conscious awareness and control. Thus, it is merely not enough to augment the functionality of human cognitive and perceptual systems: we also need to consider the natural phenomenology of the human body, thoughts and world. As we integrate with technology, we would want to feel that we are the ones thinking, feeling, expressing, and experiencing reality, NOT the technology. With the newly-found focus on consciousness and phenomenology within experimental science, there are now ample opportunities in applying such research with technology to elicit not just physical integration but "Experiential Integration." Our aim is to shed light on the importance of experiential integration and provide researchers with a scientifically driven foundation for designing technologies that integrate with peoples natural experience of themselves and the world