Connecting To Computer Worlds
I believe in authenticity. I believe it’s one of the preconditions for a more harmonious world. Together with empathy, as only empathy leads to true understanding, to connecting.
To me empathy and authenticity are deeply intertwined, as one can only empathize when being authentic, just like one can only empathize with what’s authentic. This is just the same with people as it is with the world around us.
For instance, we connect to nature quite easily, but not necessarily to our kitchen table. Unless the table means something to us. Like when its design expresses something meaningful to us, or when the table is part of important memories. But we won’t feel connected to it when it’s just a well-made table that serves us functionally.
In computer technology I’m seeing a lot of this, even though it’s such a big part of our interactive lives nowadays. Many computer technological applications are being very well-made functionally. Especially computer generated realities, like animation, robots, (serious) games, often look very realistic. But do they mean anything to us? Do we feel touched by them? Do we connect to them? Do we empathize with them? Do we at all understand them? Or do they still feel distant to us? Do they feel disconnected from us?
New Perspective
I think that computer technology can be brought quite a bit closer to people. Not by adding more realism or more technological novelties, but by looking at the technology from a new perspective. By looking at it in qualitative terms, instead of quantitative terms. By looking at its expressiveness and believability.
I believe that within technological solutions we need to look especially at (human) movement and movement expression. Because, what we forget is that movement is not merely our functional system to get around, but that it serves us as the main instrument to express ourselves. Without movement we would not be able to express anything!!
Believable Movement Expression in Computer Technology
And that’s what I’m seeing (or better: not seeing) in computer technological solutions that aim for realism. I think that any kind of computer technology that involves (human) movement can and should be looked at in terms of motivation, intent, expression and believability. In short: authenticity. Since I believe that the more authentic computer technological applications appear to be, the more the audience will connect to them, be drawn to them. The more they will be understood. The better they can actually serve us!
Want to know what aspects of movement add to expressiveness and believability?
