Mutsugoto

Reflections on article at: http://www.distancelab.org/projects/mutsugoto/

What a sweetness idea! - "Instead of exchanging email or SMS messages using generic interfaces inwards business-like venues, Mutsugoto allows distant partners to communicate through the linguistic communication of impact every bit expressed on the canvass of the human body. H5N1 custom reckoner vision in addition to projection organization allows users to depict on each other's bodies spell lying inwards bed. Drawings are transmitted 'live' betwixt the 2 beds, enabling a dissimilar sort of synchronous communication that leverages the emotional character of physical gesture."

This is an interesting instance to hash out inwards regards to my personal Definition of spiritual applied scientific discipline (admittedly even in addition to thus taking shape). At commence this seems to last an drive to blueprint for human values, namely intimacy. As the article says, "Human intimacy is a meaning exactly oftentimes neglected business office of modern life. More people straightaway than always deport on long distance relationships alongside romantic partners, sometimes for extended periods of time. However today's communication systems are impersonal in addition to generic. E-mail, for example, is oftentimes read in addition to written on the same reckoner in addition to at the same desk that 1 uses for whatever other sort of communication. Phone calls in addition to SMS messages are sent in addition to received betwixt partners on the same devices used for operate in addition to business." But where this goes wrong, I suppose, is that takes this feature of modern guild every bit given, unquestionable, or at to the lowest degree unchangeable... in addition to inwards fact, if it took off, would reinforce the structures that brand this lack of intimacy possible. To nation this to a greater extent than clearly, it is similar applying a tourniquet to hemorrhaging guild (Senge et al., 2004, would telephone band this "shifting the burden" (204)), inwards short, propping upwards the structures that inwards plow enable decreased intimacy yesteryear preventing us from reaching what I would telephone band a Turning Point, or Breaking Point. If nosotros were, instead, to attain a signal where nosotros could in conclusion say, "I abhor this lifestyle that agency I can't last alongside the people I love!" nosotros powerfulness genuinely alter every bit a society. But if nosotros do technologies that brand these "realities" of modern life palatable, nosotros calcify them inwards exercise in addition to inwards our mindsets.

I sometimes recollect we're scream for the incorrect questions. The inquiry perchance should non be, "How do nosotros do applied scientific discipline that offsets the side-effects of a technologized society?" (think of taking pills to counteract negative side-effects of other pills, in addition to on in addition to on). Should nosotros non last asking, "Where did nosotros become wrong?" I recollect this is why it's of import to me to approach technological conception from a spiritual perspective, i.e., to non avoid the deeper questions.