bender

In a way, embracing the latest gadget from the world’s beloved tech conglomerate contradicts the claim “not to exploit the trends” that I make in the "Why have I started the duoton newsletter" post. However, spatial computing is a subject of great importance to my work, and I can’t help but share my excitement. I had anticipated Apple’s entry into this space back in 2018, but my optimism proved to be unfounded. There were various technological challenges, the impact of COVID, and, of course, the market’s influence on the production of technology we can have rather than the technology we truly need.

How can I be excited about “Vision Pro” with the preceding (and failing) long line of “glasses” and VR headsets, and not “Chat GPT” that all the cool kids are talking about? Firstly, because Apple has a strong track record of shaping market trends, which is great for indicating the direction where investors will now place their bets. Secondly, the developers! Finally, they will start paying attention, and immersive experiences will move from Sundance’s lineup to “Product Hunt”. What is most important to me, though, is that spatial computing goes beyond communication, it’s partially sential! In its current state, it addresses two out of seven dimensions of human sentience. While it is unlikely that generative language models will develop their own senses in the near future, these two advancements align with a trajectory towards a singularity-like future.

Spatial computing has the potential to enhance accessibility to education regardless of geographical location, offering an immersive learning experience. It opens up new marketplace opportunities for individuals from underserved regions and disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby reducing barriers to entry in fields of artistry and entrepreneurship. Moreover, it transcends the digital and physical divide, emphasizing the power of self-expression by blurring these boundaries. We are now entering the post-digital era, where artists can perform and present in innovative ways and explore generative, procedural, nonfungible, and multisensory forms of expression. The impact goes beyond wearing NFT dresses; artists will have the ability to collaboratively create post-digital art forms, embodying their creative tools in mixed reality, and breaking free from the confines of flat and limited-sized screens.

Spatial computing will not only reduce the need for physical offices and retail spaces, but also foster innovative ideas for the development of urban spaces that cater to post-digital art, community engagement, and cultural experiences. This technological advancement will provide option for a different economic mobility, easing the financial burden on city-dwellers and potentially transforming immigration policies. Post-digital citizens will enjoy broader audiences and improved inclusivity. Additionally, I anticipate that mixed reality will contribute to mitigating the environmental impacts of textile and fashion manufacturing, as well as the electronics industry. As headsets become more ubiquitos, there will be a reduced reliance on other personal digital devices.

linked mentions for "bender":

1. the duoton newsletter

   Today I’m starting the“duoton” newsletter, and the "bender" piece will serve as its inaugural issue. That seems like an appropriate moment to