What is it about?
We asked people to interact with visualizations of their biometric data using consumer grade EEGs and ECGs. Many studies argue that digital visualizations of body data provide an alienated, modular view of the body. Although we saw some evidence of this, we also found that participants 'intra-acted' with the data using memory, visualization, and sound in ways that made these images meaningful to themselves.
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Why is it important?
This study questions the assumption that digital visualizations of the body alienate their users. It also provides insight into the process of making meaning using digital forms of communication.
Perspectives
We were somewhat surprised by our findings in this study. We expected to confirm arguments emphasizing the alienating effects of digital visualizations of the body. Instead, we found that people made these images meaningful through a playful 'tarrying' with the machines.
Dr. Barbara Jenkins
Wilfrid Laurier University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Bodily Intra-actions with Biometric Devices, Body & Society, November 2015, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1357034x15604030.
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