viz.

Daniel Everett, detail ofGoals

Noel's post on tweeting with the body reminded me of Daniel Everett's work, which also deals with the intersections of man and machine. His pieces suggest, sometimes playfully, the myriad ways in which interaction with technology shapes selfhood.

Daniel Everett, two images from Search Queries

All three of the above images suggest the way the Internet in particular affects day-to-day life. While the first image, which invokes the consuming nature of online media, is amusing, the latter two seem somewhat darker.  Their title plays on the frequent overlap of personal/emotional and online searching; if you have or think you might have a personal problem, you check the Internet first. Searching "self esteem" online may yield information that will actually help remedy low self esteem, but it also maintains the aloneness (if not actual loneliness) that can negatively affect happiness levels. I actually searched "something meaningful" and found a lot of self-help information which (depending on the particular advice) can also allow the individual to solve her problem without human contact. The spare, empty room in these words appear emphasizes the absence of others.

Daniel Everett, Speed Run

While I think Everett's work gets at the both personal and cultural functions of technology, I wonder what it would be like if it were more immersive. While these images invoke formative experiences with technology, they keep the viewer at a distance; they therefore draw attention to how certain media (photography, for example) work differently than others. How might someone accomplish similar arguments, but within a more interactive space? What work does the recognition of immersion through a more distant viewing experience do?