Neil Harbisson’s presentation “I listen to Color” was very dry, but informative.
I loved the examples of how color relates to everything from speeches, meals, desserts, to everyday people and celebrities. I found his outfit quite odd, especially for someone who is color blind. When he mentioned that the colors of his outfit represented a C Major chord to him, and how these chords/colors relate and ultimately define him. This definitely added a new perspective on Chris Milk’s virtual reality presentation and how to visually relate and feel to people’s advantage. Resonate states to “Clearly contrast who the audience is when they walk into a room… with whom they could be when they leave the room.” This is something that Neil Harbisson did very well when contrasting our “human” perceptions with what we could be if we used technology to enhance our senses and made the leap from “human” to
“cyborg”.
Chris Milk utilised delivery contrast when he contrasts between the way visual technology traditionally delivers information with what proper utilisation of the emerging technology, virtual reality, can deliver information and evoke greater emotion in people.
Joe Kowan used emotional contrast when he combined talking about his feelings and what is scientifically happening to one’s body when they are experiencing extreme anxiety.
Neil Harbisson used content contrast when he compares what our senses are, and allow us to perceive, with what they could be if we took a technological leap to enhance people.
All of the presenters used humor to keep the audience engaged.
Joe Kowan used music when he performed a song singing and playing his guitar.
Neil Harbisson combined visual and auditory elements when he held up squares of colors and played the sound that he hears when he sees them.
Chris Milk used multiple videos throughout his presentation, including an old commercial that would likely evoke childhood memories for many in the audience.
All of the speakers maintained eye contact with the audience in addition to using their hands as they spoke and moving around the stage so that they did not appear stiff in their presenting.
Neil Harbisson ended his presentation with a call to action to the audience to think about the ways technologies could enhance humans, and to consider getting “cyborg” enhancements themselves.
Through his humility and honesty, Joe Kowan created common ground with the audience.