Introduction
On November 5, A Lab and Vandejong brought together another club of curious minds for a topic that now seems far away for the vast majority of people, but is very likely to be of great importance worldwide in the near future. Thinkers and doers took us on a journey around the edges of our bodies, where technology and biology merge. How does technology influence our bodies, our identity, our humanity? We set to work on these questions, based on demos, discussions and input from experts.
Visitors trickle into the industrial, cozy Playground in A Lab. A robot cat is happily purring on an armchair. Cassandra de Klerck, co-organizer, opens the program. She reminds us that collective stories shape the world, and that we're questioning our technology narrative today. Visitors then sign their own “body scan”: which parts of the body have already been affected by technology? The list is growing rapidly - from lasered eyes to implants and “cut-cut” surgeries (read: sterilization). Then visitors embark on a discovery route through the old Shell laboratory.
On a tech discovery: the exhibitors
Musician Chagall uses her motion-capture suit to transform movement into light and sound, turning her body into an instrument. Robin Coops opens the door to 'virtual sensuality' and discusses consent in the virtual space. In a VR experience by production company Nemo Vos, your body is completely immersed in a simulated reality. The classic “rubber hand” experiment tricks your brain almost flawlessly: how is it that a fake rubber hand really seems to be yours?
The playground of technological incentives offers even more. Meike Baretta guides a meditation on the question: where does our body actually start and end - are we infinite? Meanwhile, a self-built AI studio is conducting live interviews, where ChatGPT asks all questions. At Tumo's workshop, an innovation program for children, a discussion about the dangers of algorithms is just brewing. Each demo raises a new question. Together, they provide an intriguing insight into a future that is closer than we think.
Myths and tough questions: the speakers
We return to the basement for in-depth talks. The speakers are pioneers: artists and scientists who work at the frontiers of technology. Johan Hoorn, researcher in social robotics, takes the audience into an existential question: what makes us 'us'? With concrete examples, he shows that the 'self' is an illusion. Ajuna Soerjadi, philosopher specializing in AI, debunks persistent myths about AI. According to her, AI is neither a 'unicorn' nor a 'monster', but a sociotechnical system: a human tool that reproduces existing ideas.
Marleine van der Werf, filmmaker and visual artist, makes the lines blur even further. Where does our consciousness actually “sit”? With her work, she challenges fundamental beliefs about our bodies. The last speaker, Simon Dogger, is the first blind designer to graduate from the Design Academy. He developed the “Emotion Whisperer” to translate body language into vibrations.
Optimistic forward
We end the day by looking ahead: how will our bodies be merged with technology in a hundred years? Visitors are now daring to continue to fantasize. Someone suggests permanent skin protection against mosquito bites and UV radiation, another wants to breathe underwater.
The conclusion of this 'Curious About'? Thinking about and discussing what technology is and what we want to do with it is essential. It's nice to talk about the future of technology in an intimate setting, without big tech companies around: a group of curious tech optimists discussing with each other. This way, everyone returns home with unique experiences and conversation material. The robot cat has now been out of place and purrs quietly.
Thank you to everyone who has delved with us into achieving positive, lasting change together. Power to the people!
In particular, big applause and thanks for: (Curious About 5 (list)
• Wytze Veenstra (Visual Notes) • Carlijn Kingma • Jeroen den Uyl (Constitution for the Commons) • Nathalie van Loon (Municipality of Amsterdam) • Chris Keulemans (Save Amsterdam North) • Machteld Klaassen (North approach) • Michiel Voskamp (CrowdBuilding) • Marie-Jose Hoefmans (Schluss) • Circus Andersom • Ruben Hein (On legs!) • Olga Verheijden (Oh What A Story) • Nina the Short (We Are Stewards) • Maren Siebert & Marco Hohl (Check it out) • William de Haan • Eagle Jan van den Beld
📸 by Sonia Rodríguez 📹 by Olga Verheijden - Oh What A Story Reporting: Sytze & Anne-Sophie
