Sunday, July 14, 2019

The Role of Interface in Embodiment


 The Role of Interface in Embodiment

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

The devices that are used by large system controllers (pilots, captains, energy production controllers etc.)
feel as if the controlled system is a continuation of their bodies.  This means they do not feel their hands specificly but they feel the movement of the system, namely the maneuvering/turning airplane, ship or work machine.

Embodiment reduces the boundary between the system and the controller as described above.  This boundary is the interface device(for ex. keyboard, mouse, joystick).  When the feeling of embodiment increases the perception of the interface namely, the hand and the feeling of touching to the interface device decreases and vice versa.

Aviation, Air Traffic Control, any type of navigation is a performance art, partially at least.  An instrument being performed by a performer is a typical case of embodiment.  The instrument becomes a part of the performer’s body schema[1].

A guitar gets embodied by its player.  The performer squeezes a string on the finger board with his left hand and plugs that string with his right hand.  The instrument is designed so that specific locations on specific strings produces various pitches.  When playing a well exercised music piece the performer does not think of ‘how to’ or ‘where to’ push and plug on the guitar.  It is automatic.  When learning the instrument in the early days, the performer needs to look at his left hand to remember the positions.  After a while the automatic processes get established and he stops looking at what his hand does.  The instrument has got embodied with the performer.  The performer feels as if the guitar is part of his hands.

Similarly, a pilot has to switch a number of switches among many availables on his control panels.  These switches control the behaviour of the airplane, the motors, specific wings and their parts etc.  He has no time to search the switches among all the others.  It is automatic.  He knows them by his subconscious.  "Subconscious defines all reactions and automatic actions we can become aware of if we think about them.[3]“ The control of the airplane, hence the airplane itself has become part of the pilot’s body.  Airplane is embodied by the pilot.

REFERENCES:
[1]Carolien HERMANS, 2002, Embodiment: the flesh and bones of my body.
“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…”
[3] Motions|June 21st, 2016; What Is The Subconscious Mind?