Human Plus Stories: Technology Plus
Designers and users of assistive technology have been invited to share their experiences with technology as prosthetic. What do we, able bodied, disabled, and everyone along that spectrum, use to get through the day? From robotic legs to bits of wire, designers and end users are hacking their worlds to make them more accessible.
Tickets: $10 (includes beer/wine reception)
Discount code: NYSCIstories for $2 off tickets
A two-part event of true personal stories presented by The Story Collider and the New York Hall of Science, with support from the National Science Foundation.
Humans have always used technology to extend their abilities. Wheels, bows and arrows, steam engines, cars, and telephones have changed history by enhancing what an unadorned person can do. This technology is extending the abilities of all people, shading the distinction between the disabled and the able bodied. Amputees competing in the mainstream Olympics are just the most visible manifestation of this change. As new technologies emerge, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and soldiers ravaged by war will regain their participation in daily life. And for all of us, the shortsighted, the distracted, the forgetful, and those of us who don’t get to the gym very often, new technologies will continue to augment our abilities and extend our lives.
In some cases, this is an unalloyed good, but there are ethical questions of who gets access to this technology and how it will affect the patterns of life, death, and society shaped over millennia. The Story Collider and the New York Hall of Science have brought together diverse stories that embed this millennial change in personal narratives. These will be presented in three events.
Full schedule of events at: http://nysci.org/event/human-plus-stories/2014-04-02/
New York Hall of Science presents 450 exhibits, demonstrations, workshops and participatory activities that explain science, technology, engineering, and math. A visit to NYSCI is a hands-on, energetic educational experience where you can indulge your curiosity and nurture your creativity. NYSCI offers professional development for teachers, produces curricula and resources for classrooms, and studies how technology, gaming and play affect how we learn. NYSCI was founded at the 1964–65 World’s Fair and has evolved into New York’s center for interactive science, serving a half million students, teachers, and families each year.
Science surrounds us. Even when we don’t notice it, science touches almost every part of our lives. At the Story Collider, we believe that everyone has a story about science—a story about how science made a difference, affected them, or changed them on a personal and emotional level. We find those stories and share them in live shows and on our podcast. Sometimes, it’s even funny.
