Illinois Tech, 电车无码 Humanities Examine How Technology Is Impacting Our Lives

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By Tad Vezner
Illinois Tech Institute of Design Dean Anijo Mathew speaks with John Maeda

A slate of renowned designers, artists, architects, media personalities, and artificial intelligence pioneers converged on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus on May 18 to participate in a series of lively discussions exploring the symbiosis of technology and humanity in the years to come.

Among the topics highlighted during the day-long experience, hosted in coordination with , included exploring the humanistic need to directly interact with art and entertainment and the need for thought leaders to explore solutions to social problems with the same fervor that they pursue technological innovations. More than 15 events took place at the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, home of Illinois Tech鈥檚 Institute of Design.

鈥淚n an era where the rapid advancement of technologies like AI is reshaping our world, the need for design has never been more critical,鈥 said ID Dean Anijo Mathew, who hosted a conversation with John Maeda, vice president of design and AI at Microsoft. Mathew added that the day-long series of conversations 鈥減rovides an invaluable platform for these interdisciplinary exchanges, enriching our collective understanding of humanity's role in a technologically driven world.鈥

, a live-action game designer and co-founder of Incantrix Productions, 鈥渋mmersive鈥 interactive experiences and gaming. Murphy鈥檚 conversation was facilitated by Illinois Tech Professor of Digital Humanities and Media Studies Carly Kocurek, who specializes in the study of new media technologies and video gaming.

Murphy, who served as the immersive experience director on the Walt Disney World Resort鈥檚 Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser attraction, highlighted a 鈥渕ovement toward agency鈥 in the games ecosystem and the increasing use of immersive experiences in the realms of art, entertainment, and commercial enterprises, such as interactive theme parks and escape rooms.

鈥淭his is convergence of storytelling, theater, art, game, movement, roleplay, technology, environment. I think it speaks to a need that we have as human beings and as a society. I think that what we really want is meaningful agency. We want connection, and we want to feel as though our impact on the world has meaning,鈥 Murphy said.

, a professor of African American studies at Princeton University, why there is a need to ensure that there are no limitations on anyone鈥檚 imagination about technological advances鈥攂ut also making sure that way of thinking extends to progressive social advances, too.

Her talk was facilitated by Alicia Bunton, assistant vice president of community affairs at Illinois Tech.

鈥淒reaming is a social practice,鈥 Benjamin said during the conversation with Bunton. 鈥淏oldness is rationed, while realism is mass-produced. We are in many ways trapped inside the lopsided imagination of those who monopolize power and resources to benefit the few at the expense of the many.鈥

Associate Professor Maria Villalobos Hernandez, who is also the director of the College of Architecture鈥檚 Landscape Architecture and Urbanism program, moderated a conversation with , the founder of Hood Design Studio and the winner of The Architect鈥檚 Newspaper鈥檚 2023 Project of the Year Award for the International African American Museum. Hood about incorporating his concepts of design into art, landscape, architecture, and urbanism, and of the need to desegregate the individual disciplines.

鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 the collision of these different disciplines that allow for that richness to come out. It鈥檚 that space in between,鈥 Hood said. 鈥淔or housing, it is the site plan. But now with housing, there is no site plan鈥攖hey鈥檙e all the same. They鈥檙e all on top of a parking garage, and there鈥檚 a courtyard in the middle.鈥

Hood also spoke of the need to apply equal effort to every project, no matter the client or neighborhood.

鈥淎 lot of people I know don鈥檛 do public work because they don鈥檛 want to deal with people, and the issues that come along with it鈥攍ike poverty,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want there to be equity in those ideas.鈥

Visitors to the day-long festivities could examine interactive experiences on Illinois Tech鈥檚 campus and watch other moderated conversations and lectures from notable leaders in a variety of industries, including Jen Psaki, an MSNBC host who served as the press secretary for the Biden administration; George Stephanapoloulos, a Good Morning America co-anchor who was White House communications director in the Clinton administration; filmmaker, author, and visual artist Miranda July; trailblazing feminist and musician Kathleen Hanna; performance artist Marina Abramovi膰; and many others. 

Photo: Institute of Design Dean Anijo Mathew [right] speaks with John Maeda, vice president of design and AI at Microsoft, during the 电车无码 Humanities Festival at Illinois Tech.