Research Article
Sensory Augmentation: Toward a Dialogue Between the Arts and Sciences
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_21, author={Alwin Rooij and Michel Dartel and Antal Ruhl and Hanna Schraffenberger and Bente Melick and Mathijs Bontje and Mischa Daams and Michel Witter}, title={Sensory Augmentation: Toward a Dialogue Between the Arts and Sciences}, proceedings={Interactivity, Game Creation, Design, Learning, and Innovation. 6th International Conference, ArtsIT 2017, and Second International Conference, DLI 2017, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, October 30--31, 2017, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={ARTSIT \& DLI}, year={2018}, month={3}, keywords={Art-science collaboration Cognitive science Interfaces New media art Sensory augmentation Sensory substitution}, doi={10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_21} }- Alwin Rooij
Michel Dartel
Antal Ruhl
Hanna Schraffenberger
Bente Melick
Mathijs Bontje
Mischa Daams
Michel Witter
Year: 2018
Sensory Augmentation: Toward a Dialogue Between the Arts and Sciences
ARTSIT & DLI
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_21
Abstract
People sense the world by exploiting correlations between their physical actions and the changing sensory input that results from those actions. Interfaces that translate non-human sensor data to signals that are compatible with the human senses can therefore augment our abilities to make sense of the world. This insight has recently sparked an increase in projects that explore sensemaking and the creation of novel human experiences across scientific and artistic disciplines. However, there currently exists no constructive dialogue between artists and scientists that conduct research on this topic. In this position paper, we identify the theory and practice of as a domain that could benefit from such a dialogue. We argue that artistic and scientific methods can complement each other within research on sensory augmentation and identify six thematic starting points for a dialogue between the arts and sciences. We conducted a case study to explore these conjectures, in which we instigated such a dialogue on a small scale. The case study revealed that the six themes we identified as relevant for a dialogue on sensory augmentation emerge rather spontaneously in such a dialogue and that such an exchange may facilitate progress on questions that are central to the theory and practice of sensory augmentation. Overall, this position paper contributes preliminary evidence for the potential of, and a starting point for, a dialogue between the arts and sciences that advances our understanding of sensory augmentation and the development of applications that involve it.