“When the Past Technology Comes to the Future Wearable Technology: Speculative Art Project Lock at First Sight (2020)” presented by Kim
Symposium:
Session Title:
- Virtual (full papers)
Presentation Title:
- When the Past Technology Comes to the Future Wearable Technology: Speculative Art Project Lock at First Sight (2020)
Presentation Subtheme:
- Speculative practices
Presenter(s):
Abstract:
To protect information—both individuals’ and corporations’—we use locks in both the real world and the digital environment. Due to the non-physicality in the digital environment, digital locks have appeared, such as numeric and letter-based combinations, the most common and secure way to perform any online activity. For additional security purposes, passwords have to be updated every few months. Clearly, it is true that there is no way to avoid using those passwords as long as we connect to the digital world. In other words, users easily get overwhelmed by the plethora of passwords regarding secure combinations, security questions, and regulations. Biometric data is permanent and cannot be changed— you cannot change your biologically innate iris or fingerprint. To lessen the burden, digital authentication systems apply biometrics technologies, such as iris scanners or fingerprint sensors on smartphones. Inspired by ancient signet rings (seals), the author proposes a speculative art object, Lock at First Sight (2020), a soft contact lens with a unique marker as a wearable security lock, which highlights lesser-known vulnerabilities in biometrics. This object is intended as social and artistic commentary, not as a functional product proposal for a commercial marketplace.
