Global Empathy VIA Computer-Brain Interfaces

This is an ongoing project I have been planning, which I recently submitted to the Agency of Unrealized Projects

http://www.e-flux.com/shows/view/9591

Emerging brain-computer interface technologies are expanding the range of human expression, consciousness and human potential. I seek to dissolve notions of the self, attachment to the self, and increase empathy between people in order to reduce human suffering. My project involves a globally connected network of participants wearing EEG brain-computer interfaces. By displaying the average of thousands of live readings back to the participants their minds will slowly become closer to the average, effectively entering into an empathetic resonance feedback loop.


Through this I hope to enact a computer aided global awakening of empathy and compassion between people of the world.

Electroencephalography is defined as the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain. Rather than measuring the subtly of individual neurons firing EEG systems rely on the emergent pulses of millions of neurons which all fire simultaneously in wave patterns. Amplitude, phase, frequency and coherence of these signals as well as rhythmic neuronal oscillations of the Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gama and Mu brainwaves are all measured with great accuracy.

Several consumer grade EEG scanners are now available on the market. The price point will eventually reach a level where most households have EEG devices in them and they will become as ubiquitous as the cellphone. Infact cellphones are a likely candidate for the eventual global distribution of this technology.,

A small scale experiment may be conducted with 5-10 EEG devices.