Media Technology researchers presenting at Brave New World conference
The "BRAVE NEW WORLD" conference is about how future technology will impact human life. On November 8-9 it is held in Leiden. Two of the invited speakers are researchers and lecturers of the Media Technology program.
BRAVE NEW WORLD is an annual conference for people who want to know what the future holds in store and how this will affect their business, policies and life. To discuss what ethical and societal impact new technologies could have on human life, the worlds of culture, philosophy, science, technology and storytelling will collide. The conference is for people who want to go beyond their own field of interest, who want to network with others with an innovative mindset.
Read more about BNW 2021, its program and speakers. Or better yet: attend yourself!
"Robots & Religion" by Peter van der Putten
Given that religion appears to be such a quintessential human phenomenon, what could be the relationship between religion and robots? This topic is researched by Media Technology's Peter van der Putten.
Earlier religions and believe systems were open in believing that lifeless objects could have godly powers or at least a soul. Several prevalent current religions, however, position humans as superior to nature and the artificial world, effectively placing humans at the center of the universe. But do we feel that in this time and age, robots could be gods, intermediaries to the gods or be believers themselves?
>> Peter presents his findings at BNW on November 8. See speaker info.
"Growing digital landscapes from bacteria & fungi" by Maarten Lamers
Can real-time growth of bacteria and fungi be used to generate real-time game environments? This question was researched by Media Technology alumnus and PhD candidate Wim van Eck and his supervisor, Maarten Lamers.
To study this idea, a successful kitchen-table experiment was performed, involving a document scanner, instant coffee, petri dishes, stomach medicine, and human spit. The resulting virtual landscapes developed in real-time. And to a geologically untrained observer, they appear as possible results of geological processes.
>> Maarten presents their work on playful and DIY science at BNW on November 9. See speaker info.
BRAVE NEW WORLD and the Media Technology program have collaborated closely in the past also. In 2019 they co-organised the CRITTERS exhibition in Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
It explored the connection between technology and natural organisms. When does technology become a natural being?
