The concept of designing a technology that maps a performers movements to a variable output could be seen as an analogy of the relationship humans and technology share. This close knit relationship is becoming more substantial, where almost all of our actions involve it in some way.
It can be seen that humans have an enormous ability to adapt to new technologies. Recent employment saw the use of an EFTPOS device where people had to push a physical button, either 1, 2, or 3 in order to select their account. In an age group of mainly 40-60 year old, about 50% of people stabbed at the screen relentlessly, not realizing that it was not a touch response but simply an options menu detailing assigned physical buttons. In a short 10 years, many people have forgotten that buttons used to be the only method of inputting data into an electronic device such as a phone or EFTPOS. (Erickson. C, Nov 10, 2012, para. 12-18)
What was more surprising and interesting was that this was also an older generation, when one could hypothesize, would have initially taken longer to move over to new technologies.
Humans adaption rate has become proportionately faster with time based against a ratio of the commercial market whilst flooded with new ideas and new items to try.
Electricity is an ever present medium upon which all of the conveniences of daily life rely. Digital electronics moderate our movements, advance our pleasure and log our activity.
To engage with technology is the acceptance of an industrial era, only ever confined by the limits of mere imagination, ready and eager to stretch forth into unfounded terrain.
To state an example, even our friendship groups have become predominantly digital, it is not uncommon to see a table of people in a public space, all on individual devices, engaging with various people outside of the present moment. There is much that could be said with regard to this phenomenon, but that is outside the scope of this investigation into the practical uses of technology in performance art.
Within the scope, is pushing the limits of this technocratic relationship and developing a perceptive cognitive response to the convenience of technology in expression and other mediums of digitally created art.
DANCE VEST wearable performance technology 