Date of Award
Spring 6-3-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Digital Media
First Advisor
Shona Kitchen
Second Advisor
Fletcher Bach
Third Advisor
Jack Madden
Abstract
In today's society, technology has become an indispensable part of our lives, permeating our daily routines to the point where it feels as essential as the air we breathe. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the profound impact of technology, revealing its dual nature. While video conferencing bridged distances and connected people, the excessive use of social media drove wedges between them. As a multimedia artist, this thesis focuses on harnessing the positive potential of technology. Specifically, the objective is to employ technology as a medium to create art that fosters meaningful connections among individuals and conveys intricate emotions and complex relationships.
Interactive art serves as a perfect conduit for achieving these objectives as it captures attention and cultivates awareness through direct input and output mechanisms. Despite emotions and relationships being fundamental aspects of our lives, we often underestimate the struggles associated with them. Society tends to prioritize rationality and non-emotional behavior, mistakenly perceiving them as superior and more desirable traits. However, human interactions, including those involving technology, awaken individuals to their feelings and nonverbal responses, prompting a deeper understanding of themselves and their connections with others.
Through the exploration of human-computer interaction and physical computing, this thesis endeavors to facilitate social and relational awareness. A series of experiments and studies are conducted, focusing on the varying physical distances ranging from intimate proximity of 0cm to distances exceeding 18cm between individuals. By showcasing my creative works, I aspire to inspire individuals to embrace and cherish their special moments and emotions, fostering a greater sense of self-awareness and empathy.
Recommended Citation
Kang, Jinha, "Distance: A collection of studies of Human-Computer interaction to explore human emotions and relationships" (2023). Masters Theses. 1045.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1045
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Comments
View exhibition online: Jinha Kang, Mirage