10.6092/issn.2038-3460/17393
application/pdf
2038-3460
17393
1
en
Eric Siu
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/
Tecnoscienza – Italian Journal of Science & Technology Studies
Touchy (Cover’s Comment)
Text.Serial.Journal
https://tecnoscienza.unibo.it/
9
Editorial
2018-08-06
2023-06-25
2018-08-06
2023-08-28
TS
Eric Siu
2018/08/06
10.6092/issn.2038-3460/17393
2038-3460
1
en
Touchy (Cover’s Comment)
https://tecnoscienza.unibo.it/article/download/17393/16251
9
                                                      Cover’s comment


Touchy (2012) by Eric Siu

Touchy is a human camera – a wearable device that literally transforms a
human being into a functioning camera. The individual who is wearing
the device is constantly “blinded” unless someone touches his/her skin.
The touch causes the shutters in front of the eyepieces to open and re-
stores the wearer’s vision. When physical contact is maintained for 10
seconds, the camera takes a “Touch-Snap” (i.e., a photo that is taken by
Touchy), which is displayed on the device’s LCD.
    Online social technology loosens our social boundaries, yet equally
dehumanizes physical communication. Connecting with people can now
solely occur through our fingertips as conveniently as pushing a Facebook
“Like” button or posting a birthday wall post. Considering the urgency of
such dehumanization, Touchy is devised to encourage offline communi-
cation through touch, eye contact and engaging activity of photography
presupposing that a camera is historically known for sharing valuable life
memories and emotions. The resulting touch-snaps remind us of the
ephemeral richness of togetherness.
    Touchy hybridizes the roles of humans and cameras by unifying their
respective capabilities. The mechanical process of taking a photo is trans-
formed into a physical touch and eye contact. With these capabilities,
Touchy becomes a magnet for physical communication, potentially turn
itself into a social healing device by establishing a reciprocal relationship
– the wearer, who is caged in darkness, craves human touch, while
“Toucha,” the person who touches Touchy, offers assistance and receives
a touch-snap through an effortless touch. The project then investigates
the possibility of healing social problems, such as “Hikikomori” in Japan,
isolated senior citizens, orphans, or those who experience social anxiety.
    Touchy pursues to extend from being a performance device to an ac-
tual contribution to society. Since September 2012, the artist has put
himself into experiment throughout numerous performances. He has
experienced personal transformation after meeting vast amounts of peo-
ple whom he otherwise would not have met, seeing a great deal of smiling
faces, and experiencing countless friendly touches in thousands of touch-
snaps.

http://touchy.camera/en/
http://ericsiu.net/

Cover photo by Keith Tsuji
