This project explores a coupling between the organic and the mechanical, between human mind and technology.
The image shows Newton, painted by William Blake in 1795. In words of Matt Pearson (2011, p.xxv), to the left of the picture are brightly colored flora and fauna, the complexity of the natural world. To the right is order, the precision of geometry and the compass. In the middle, between these two incongruous elements, sits Man. Except in this case, it isn`t just any man, it`s Isaac Newton, writer of Principia Mathematica, the founding work of classical mathematics. Blake`s painting is a criticism of Newton`s world view; he is turning his back upon the beauty of the natural world, his sole interest is in his scroll and compass.
Modern computer programmers may adopt the same pose as Newton. They spend their working days entranced before a screen, squinting at a glowing monitor in a dimmed office, making only the barest micro-movements with their mouse-hand and keyboard fingers, only vaguely aware of what is beyond the screen.
The aim of this project is to create an immersive digital and physical experience for the subject to interact with it, by wearing an EEG chip embedded head gear. By having the mind control over the machine, the subject tries to reach a fully attentive state. Thus, this paper will elaborate further on “How can Digital Media facilitate Mindfuness?”
Mindfulness is the focusing of attention and awareness. In his book Virtual Community, Howard Rheingold (2000, P.133) lays out two guidelines: “Rule Number One is to pay attention. Rule Number Two might be: Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.”
MIND {IT} 