THE MACHINE TO BE ANOTHER
By BE ANOTHER LAB 2012
The Machine to Be Another is an embodied virtual reality system that allows visitors to experience the world through the eyes and body of another person. By combining virtual reality, cognitive science, and performance, The Machine lets users see themselves in a different body while moving and interacting with the space with realistic tactile feedback. The Machine works as an open platform to co-design immersive experiences in which one can step into the shoes of another. This long-term research aims to promote empathy among individuals of different social, cultural and ideological contexts, with the goal of facilitating shared civic action across identity faultlines. It has been used to address issues like cultural bias, immigration, generational bonding, conflict resolution and body extension in more than 20 countries.
BIO
BeAnotherLab is an interdisciplinary multinational group dedicated to understanding, communicating and expanding subjective experience, focusing its work on understanding the relationship between identity and empathy from an embodied perspective. Since 2012, the group has used virtual reality, coupled with techniques derived from neuroscientific research, to develop innovative applications in art, scientific research, social projects, healthcare and education — all while putting a strong emphasis in the impact of their work in people’s lives. BeAnotherLab’s work is based on an inclusive distributed model of action-research and collaborative design methods. BeAnotherLab holds collaborations across multiple countries, disciplines and institutions.