Heidi Boisvert: How I'm using biological data to tell better stories -- and spark social change
Heidi Boisvert harnesses the power of popular culture, emerging technology and neuroscience to ignite culture change. Full bio
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to change your mind.
and emerging technology
to promote human rights,
about unfair immigration laws
augmented reality apps
whether a game or an app
from making media and technology
neurobiological effects.
virtual and augmented reality
the structure of our brain.
to positively influence hearts and minds
in the brain necessary for empathy
upon the web and mobile devices
our cognitive and affective faculties,
and emotionally incompetent,
in this dehumanization.
making media about social issues,
the harmful effects of technology.
the mechanisms of empathy,
and motivational aspects,
the narrative ingredients
an open-source biometric lab,
to media and technology
to adapt content
of narrative ingredients
and educational organizations
or interacting with media content,
real-time data from brain waves,
blood flow, body temperature
and facial expressions.
where critical plot points,
or unusual camera angles occur.
in "Game of Thrones, Red Wedding,"
person's political beliefs,
and demographic data,
of the individual.
with their views on social justice issues
immigration among their top three concerns
of "The Walking Dead,"
for the adrenaline boost,
and their survey response
to create their unique media imprint.
finds patterns between media imprints
to engagement in altruistic behavior
television to games,
the first media genome.
identifies all genes involved
will eventually allow me
for a specific person.
refine their storytelling,
audiences on an individual level.
an emotional and physiological response,
to biometric data
on real-time unconscious responses.
were able to measure how audiences feel
and social-change strategies
to mass audiences,
customized for each person.
of media consumption
becomes the norm,
tailored directly to our cravings
biometrics and AI.
based on our DNA.
the Limbic Lab in a pilot study
episodic television shows.
with an ethical dilemma.
that can be turned into a weapon,
to encourage access and inclusivity,
of enabling powerful governments
to appropriate the platform
or other forms of mass persuasion.
it is critical to make my research
lay audiences as GMO labels.
technology shapes our cultural values
the trajectory of future technology.
an ethical commitment
and just stories
into narrative medicine.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Heidi Boisvert - Artist and creative technologistHeidi Boisvert harnesses the power of popular culture, emerging technology and neuroscience to ignite culture change.
Why you should listen
Heidi Boisvert is an interdisciplinary artist, experience designer, creative technologist and academic researcher who interrogates the neurobiological and socio-cultural effects of media and technology. Simply put, she studies the role of the body, the senses and emotion in human perception and social change.
Boisvert is currently mapping the world's first media genome, while taking great care with its far-reaching ethical implications. She founded futurePerfect lab, a creative agency and think-tank that works with social justice organizations to design playful emerging media campaigns to transform the public imagination. She also co-founded XTH, a company creating novel modes of expression through biotechnology and the human body. Presently, she is working with David Byrne on Theater of the Mind, a new immersive theater piece to debut in August 2020.
Boisvert, who holds a Ph.D. in Electronic Arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is the Director of Emerging Media Technology at City University of New York, where she teaches. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Norman Lear Center (based at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication), a research affiliate in the Open Documentary Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of NEW INC, the cultural incubator at The New Museum of Contemporary Art. She serves on the advisory board of American Documentary POV Spark and was selected by ZERO1 and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to represent the United States in Turkey.
Heidi Boisvert | Speaker | TED.com