Human Perception and Digital Information Technologies: Animation, the Body, and Affect

The book explores how digital information technologies shape and influence human perception and experience, considering the relationship between technological reductionism and the body. It brings together perspectives from the humanities and digital media, affect, and body studies to expand our understanding of human perception, animation, technology, and the body.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Computational media have a profound impact on our lives by externalizing our knowledge and memories, mining data from our behavior to influence our decision-making, and creating emotionally rewarding and sensory experiences. However, it raises important questions about whether human perception is becoming a product of human-machine symbiosis in this new media ecology. This groundbreaking collection explores the ways in which digital information technologies shape and influence human perception and experience. It critically examines the relationship between technological reductionism and the body, incorporating discursive perspectives from the humanities and bringing together digital media, affect, and body studies. Written by pioneering authors in the field, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of human perception, animation, technology, and the body, expanding our horizons and challenging our assumptions.

Introduction:
In the digital age, computational media have become an integral part of our daily lives. These technologies externalize our knowledge and memories, mine data from our behavior to influence our decision-making, and create immersive and emotionally rewarding experiences. While computational media have many benefits, they also raise concerns about the extent to which they are shaping and influencing human perception and experience.

Technological Reductionism and the Body:
One of the central themes of this collection is the relationship between technological reductionism and the body. Technological reductionism refers to the belief that the body can be reduced to its physical components and that the mind is merely an emergent property of the brain. This perspective has been prevalent in the development of digital information technologies, which often focus on the manipulation of data and the creation of virtual experiences.

However, this reductionist approach to the body has implications for human perception and experience. It suggests that the body is merely a machine that can be controlled and manipulated by technology, rather than a complex and dynamic entity that is deeply intertwined with our emotions, thoughts, and experiences. This can lead to a disembodied and dehumanized perception of the self and others, as well as a loss of agency and control over our own bodies.

Discursive Perspectives from the Humanities:
To address these concerns, this collection brings together discursive perspectives from the humanities, such as philosophy, psychology, and cultural studies. These perspectives offer valuable insights into the ways in which digital information technologies shape and influence human perception and experience. For example, philosophers explore the ethical implications of algorithmic decision-making and the potential for bias and discrimination in machine learning. Psychologists investigate the effects of digital media on our mental health and well-being, including issues such as addiction, anxiety, and depression. Cultural studies scholars examine the ways in which digital media are shaping our cultural practices and identities, including the emergence of new forms of communication, entertainment, and social interaction.

Bringing Digital Media, Affect, and Body Studies Together:
One of the key strengths of this collection is its ability to bring together digital media, affect, and body studies in a coherent and interdisciplinary way. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of these fields and the importance of understanding the ways in which they shape and influence each other. By integrating these perspectives, the collection offers a comprehensive understanding of human perception, animation, technology, and the body.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this collection provides a valuable contribution to the field of digital media and human perception. By exploring the relationship between technological reductionism and the body, incorporating discursive perspectives from the humanities, and bringing together digital media, affect, and body studies, it offers a comprehensive understanding of how these technologies shape and influence human perception and experience. This book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of digital media, affect, and body studies, as well as anyone who is interested in the implications of technology on our lives.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529226188