Lasers at Landmarks, Life-Logs

Lasers at Landmarks

I am a big fan of projects like these. This is particularly relevant because it (in some ways) addresses some of the issues we talked about last week during Eric's lecture about preservation of culture. The landmark project is yet another way for us to document our own anthropology and create a legacy and remembrance for the future. What may be problematic about it is that like everything else digital or recorded, it has the potential for being lost.

I think the most fascinating aspect of a project like this though, is the multi-dimensionality of it. Kimmelman notes that the laser not only creates an exceptionally accurate representation of the monument/landmark, but also can be used to help prepare for natural disaster and destruction of the monument. Additionally, in Scotland it is being utilized as an urban planning device to create more accurate representations of urban space and (hopefully) lead to more successful, and consequently more economic buildings. Architecture, especially large public works projects is exceptionally expensive and having the ability to implement technology like this can drastically alter the cost of these kinds of projects.

Life-Logging

Like many of the technologies/gadgets we have examined in this class, life-logging has the potential for criticism. I think a lot of people will be weary of this because it is yet another digital removal from physical life experiences and a filter through which we examine ourselves and lifestyles. Another concern with this technology is privacy. Figuring out who controls these mediated digitalized diaries and what they will/can be used for is an issue that is being constantly grappled with and asessed within the realm of this class.

I do, however, think this can be used with positive outcomes. I think analyzing data via Twitter is exceptionally useful/interesting and I think examining individual behavior like this can be yet another way in which we perserve and document ourselves anthropologically for the future.