Messages from the Biological Self

Simon Dogger

― Speaker

Simon Dogger is a designer with a whole new point of view. During his studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven, he lost his sight and was forced to take a long break. He returned as a non-visual designer, with a renewed ability to listen and feel, and a strong drive to regain his independence. Not seeing himself as handicapped, but as someone who takes in information differently, he set out to explore more inclusive forms of communication. His concepts and designs combine visual, auditory and sensory means to improve the quality of life. Not only for the visually impaired, but for all people who could benefit from self-empowering, intuitive tools that help them connect with others and their surroundings.

Chris Salter

― Speaker

Chris Salter is an artist, Professor of Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal and Co-Director of the Hexagram network for Research-Creation in Media Arts, Design, Technology and Digital Culture. Salter’s performances, installations, research and publications have been presented at numerous festivals, exhibition and conferences around the world. He is the author of Entangled (2010) and Alien Agency (2015) both from MIT Press. He was creative consultant for the Barbican Centre in London. His new book project on machine and human sensing will appear from MIT Press in 2020.

Erik Aarnoutse

― Speaker

Erik Aarnoutse is a neuroscientist, working on neurotechnology. He studies and develops implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to help people who are not able to control their muscles to communicate through brain signals. The first participant in the study is an ALS patient, who uses his system everyday to communicate at home and outside her home. He is working toward even better hardware and software possibilities, to make sure implantable neurotechnology will be of use for an ever increasing number of patient groups.

Paulien Dresscher

― Moderator

Paulien Dresscher is an independent curator and researcher in the field of art, culture and digital media on the crossroads of theory and practice. Currently she is part of the Steering Committee of PublicSpaces, curator for the interactive program of the Nederlands Film Festival, the art program of Into The Great Wide Open and Planet B/Waag. She is teaching Media Philosophy and Screen Cultures at Utrecht University and is a researcher affiliated with the Creative Economy theme of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Furthermore she is part of the Advisory Board of the Dutch Literature Fund.

Archive

Festival 2019