Amara

We tend to conceptualize robotic devices as objects of either servitude or fear. I reject this binary, and urge my fellow humans to consider the potential for a more robust, nuanced future with our constructed counterparts. Of course, a symbiosis is possible between humans and wearable technology, and I would hardly be the first to point out the very-real potential for a kind of parasitism to develop. But, it is also necessary to consider the possibility of commensal relationships emerging, wherein benefits are gained by technology to neither the benefit nor the detriment of humans. In exploring these relationships, I have found it useful to integrate the philosophies of object oriented ontology and speculative realism with the practice of design.

I invite viewers to step into the floral world of the Amara through my installation. In it, a robotic agent evolves based on information it collects from sensors embedded in a human-worn, 3D-printed exoskeleton. In this way, we can visualize a relationship in which a human acts as an extension of a robotic other. This broadens the dichotomous paradigm of “robot as servant or robot as sycophantic parasite” that humans have grown fond of. 3D-printed digital interfaces are displayed with an atmospheric soundscape. I also contrast soft pastels with dark base tones to evoke a soft, mechanical aesthetic. Through the Amara, we are able to address new questions about what a cyborg can be.

Photo credit: Angelina Melody Hobbs