Monday, June 24, 2019

What is embodiment?


What is Embodiment?

to embody (Merriam-Webster)
3 : to cause to become a body or part of a body : INCORPORATE

When we hold a hammer and hit a nail we feel asif the hammer is part of our hand.  This happens after we learn how to use the hammer and we are easy using it.

A person who has a tooth prothes in his mouth feels it as if it is his natural teeth.

A driver feels/behaves as if the car/ship/airplane is part of his body and drives with easyness without problems of size.

“Prothestic devices stretch the boundaries of the body.   They create a continuity beyond the limits of the skin[1]”

“A body schema works on a subconscious level.  It registers shape and posture of the body(without coming to awareness).   It makes a record of the momentary relative disposition of  one’s own body parts”.  “Prothestic devices can be absorbed in the body schema.  Just as a hammer in the carpenter’s hand is incorporated into his body schema, any virtual body part or interface(keyboard, mouse, joystick) can become part of the schema in a temporary or longlasting way…”[1] 

REFERENCES:
[1]Carolien HERMANS, 2002, Embodiment: the flesh and bones of my body.