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- Convenors:
-
Yonca Krahn
(Universität Zürich)
Tom O'Dell (Lund University)
- Stream:
- Digital/Virtual
- Location:
- A205
Short Abstract:
Self-measurement techniques for bodily purpose create new communities by usage of systemic knowledge edited in virtual environment for a real life improvement.
Long Abstract:
Self-measuring techniques for the strategy of self-optimisation gain momentum through development of new media and technologies in different fields: health, sports, public and private communication. This changed behaviour, focus, understanding and interpretation of daily realities to enhancement up to an utopian better self.
Such contemporary used self-documentation techniques do not only work with gadgets worn like watches or integrated in smartphones and other monitoring, registering and recording devices, such as pedometers, GPS recording or tracking for people and material goods. Phenomena such as "Selfies" or "Foodies" become part of an "open access personality".
Many self-focused strategies are supported by technical devices and sharing techniques, creating a simultaneity of real life and virtual presence. This seems to be the point when self-documentation becomes vivid: Individual data is shared and interfaced with a partly unknown other through virtuality as well as with consciously chosen contacts. This leads to the question if self-measuring underlies the tenet of controlling over things, which are individually judged as meaningful and might raise (an often fictive) quality of life. Govern data digitally and sharing with others entangles diverse groups of people throughout the world, but proposes the question whether not only a self controlling and steering exists but a crowd controlling can be found.
This panel is open to critical discussions on different trends in measuring techniques, of imaginations and practices of users. Especially ethnographic contributors are welcome, discussing keywords like controlling, surveillance, optimising and improvement of the (better) self, advancement and progress, pointing out the usage of systemic knowledge edited in virtual environment for a real life improvement.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Yonca Krahn (Universität Zürich)
Paper short abstract:
This paper focuses on triathletes using self-measuring tools not for sharing their sportive activities with others, but better organize their trainings as well as achieve higher physical performance only for themselves.
Paper long abstract:
Triathlon only becomes this sport if three disciplines are set together, which generally happens only during a competition. Only at these occasions triathletes are really able to judge their own performance in terms of physical fitness in relation to others. Here an effective training behaviour is rewarded. Because of the highly complex nature of the sport, demanding the training of three disciplines, as well as lots of knowledge of material and sportive practices, many triathletes seem to structure their trainings with electronic tools.
Measuring techniques like pulse watches and gps gadgets allow them to present personal data graphically, nowadays even vivid. Starting with compiled training plans, training recordings are made while practicing, followed up by electronic editing and evaluating data on internet platforms. Software mainly used on online webpages, allows them to generate (informal) ways of comparing oneself to others.
With ethnographic interviews as well as participant observation, questions regarding the modes of how ambitioned triathletes deal with their data are ask. A closer look at their techniques gathering and processing data further is taken: What purposes of self-optimization are generated? How are the measuring gadgets used? Does triathletes` use contradict with the original ideas of utility by providers? And what strategies of circumvention can be found?
Sabine Kienitz (Universität Hamburg)
Paper short abstract:
This paper focuses on the question of databased knowledge about the human body as a technical system, which was developed after the Great War to improve the lives of war invalids and later on also dismembered civilians, reconstructing sensitivity and providing them with prostheses.
Paper long abstract:
Collecting data on the mental and particularly on the bodily status of the war disabled was a major challenge for orthopedist (military) surgeons, psychologists, engineers and the new academic profession of orthopedists after the Great War: About 2,7 million men only in the German Weimar Republic had lost parts of their bodies in this war, which had to be restored mainly by prostheses to get those men back into working and family life and - as a consequence of the desolate social security situation - to regain them as taxpayers. The idea of reconstructing bodies by prostheses included the problem of measuring, analyzing patterns and recomposing the body as a technical apparatus. The paper will discuss these ideas and technical processes of body enhancement by prosthetic extending: What perspectives did the experts come up with, and how did the aggrieved war invalids meet those requirements?