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Thesis Info
- LABS ID
- 00841
- Thesis Title
- Bridging the Digital Divide
- Author
- N. Leily Khatibi
- E-mail
- khatibi.nl AT gmail.com
- 2nd Author
- 3rd Author
- Degree
- MFA
- Year
- 2020
- Number of Pages
- 138
- University
- San Jose State University
- Thesis Supervisor
- Andrew Blanton
- Supervisor e-mail
- andrew.blanton AT sjsu.edu
- Other Supervisor(s)
- G. Craig Hobbs, Rhonda Holberton
- Language(s) of Thesis
- English
- Department / Discipline
- Digital Media Art
- Copyright Ownership
- Languages Familiar to Author
- English, Farsi
- URL where full thesis can be found
- leilykhatibi.com/LEILYKHATIBI_THESISFINALDRAFT_compressed.pdf
- Keywords
- Art, Technology, Design, Augmented Reality, Storytelling
- Abstract: 200-500 words
- Reflecting on the history of my own life and growing up with a digital divide, I looked into previous works where I addressed the algorithmic bias. These preliminary experiments lead to my current work focusing on a bio-digital divide and the anthropocentric bias. My multimedia thesis project, titled Interconnecting with the Wood Wide Web, questions how humans can better integrate technology with biological systems to form a symbiotic relationship with the environment. This thesis proposes an exploration of using Augmented Reality to tackle global issues such as the digital divide and ecological crisis. I utilize notions of Design Fiction and Moist Media to form a theoretical framework for bridging three constructed areas of the digital divide. My research-based approach emphasizes the geopolitical and social inequity division, the hybrid spaces in between the digital/virtual and physical/real worlds, and the disconnection of virtual and vegetal domains. This future-facing and speculative series of works, which constitutes two interactive exhibitions and multiple workshops, provides a platform for participants to collectively tell stories and envision a sustainable future by merging the technosphere and the biosphere. Further, I plan to contribute to the advancing field of Extended Reality, as a lens to restore our bond with nature.