Absolute Reality
In September 2012 the Researcher received a ‘pre-alpha’ Memoto lifelogging camera which contained the following statement within the shipping packaging;
“...Notice About Pre-Alpha Units of the Memoto Lifelogging Camera - The version of the Memoto Lifelogging Camera you have received is pre-alpha. This means that you can expect it to be unfulfilling in regards to any advertised functionality and your own expectations. As such, it does not to any extent reflect the performance or functionality of the final product. More specifically you should expect the battery performance to be 10-50% of the final product. The image quality to be 50% to 70% of the final product (ie. there is a faulty lens /sensor correction matrix installed, making every photo come out with a brown or green tint and a high amount of noise.) The GPS is non-functional. No functionality implemented in terms of user interaction. There is no way for the user to turn the camera off. If there is a battery, it takes photos until it runs out of battery. No way for the camera to set the correct date /time on generated photos if not a very specific procedure is adhered to. Is the battery is depleted the clock is reset. No correct readings from the camera sensors, compass/accelerometer etc. Of course, all or most of these points will be corrected for the 1.0 version to ship. There are literally hundreds of firmware and possibly also hardware updates to make. Until then we kindly ask to withhold any public statements reflecting your appreciation or lack thereof of the Memoto Lifelogging Camera. Any comments, questions or suggestions you might have are very welcome and appreciated! Please direct them to prealpha@memoto.com If you want to try the Memoto Uploader and App, also send an email to prealpha@memoto.com. With love, Memoto team.”
As a researcher investigating the social and ethical implications for body-worn cameras in society, the original research intent was to focus on these wearable computing technologies through the lens of the educational paradigm. What has transpired as a participatory researcher now wearing the Memoto lifelogging camera in moments of lucid self-reflection has been a ‘looking glass’ in on my own ‘feelings’ as the colonisation of my own human form, now object and other ‘things’ appearing in that distorted field of view.
“… As a researcher wearing an automated lifelogging camera in many areas of my social, professional and public life, on reflection (of which there has been plenty) the device gives me a greater awareness of an already immersed humanity, with this digital eye (and me as actuator) as yet (and only) another node in the grid. My biological organs seem ‘cannibalised’, my humanity now a platform from which to feed the virtual lifelog, for some as preferable to actual reality.”
The same could be said for what has emerged as the single and largest threat to adolescent teenagers, that of their descent into a virtual, augmented, augmediated or mixed reality whilst their real-world connections and relationships suffer and fall apart as a result of their addiction. So the purpose of this research is and has always been to explore the key impacts of this networked virtual world whether it is mobile, wearable or static has on its netizens as they are digitally hoodwinked for countless human years.
A focus of the body-worn video recorder, digital eyeglass and other point of view technologies means my immersion as a participatory researcher takes a new turn and it is with that shift in my perception of participation is that I now recount. More importantly, the capacity to reflect on who I was and where I came from again proves as important in elucidating this change in humanity through my own self.
