NeuraFutures

September 2020 - Ongoing

Contributors (present): Nataliya Kosmyna, Sara Jakubowicz, Jess Young, Jiayu Du

Contributors (past): Yuran Ding, Nina Cragg, Gaby Nugent, Jackie Sabillon, Sophia Rim, Tatiana Zhizhimontova, Shannon Murphy, Sam Fromowitz, Damien Socia, Anna Demko

Exhibition History:

  • Cambridge Public Library, “NeuraFutures.” Cambridge, MA. September 25, 2023 - present.

  • Boston Cyberarts Gallery, “NeuraLiminal.” Boston, MA. April 17 - June 28, 2023.

  • MIT Rotch Library, “NeuraFutures.” Cambridge, MA. November 2022 - March 2023.

  • Cambridge Science Festival, “NeuraFutures.” Cambridge, MA. October 3 - 9, 2022.

  • Mind the Progress Conference, “NeuraFutures.” Hamburg, Germany. October 1, 2022.

  • MIT Media Lab Museum, “NeuraFutures.” Cambridge, MA. March - September 2022.

  • DA-Z New Media Art Festival, “NeuraFutures.” Zurich, Switzerland. October 27 - 31, 2021.

NeuraFutures is an ongoing research project about the representation of brain-computer interfaces in science fiction media. I helped Nataliya Kosmyna found the project in the fall of 2020. Since then, we have compiled over 500 examples of brain-computer interfaces in the media and created many data visualizations, a web experience, and a traveling installation to represent the data. The goals of this project are to make the public more aware of the scientific and societal impacts of BCI technology, as well as to show how creative media like science fiction and art-related installations can make science learning more accessible.

Installation

At DA-Z and Cambridge Science Fair, there were various learning activities for visitors to participate in:

  1. A guided tour of all the props

  2. A demo of using a headset to control a robot with your brain

  3. A video compilation of TV, movie, or gameplay clips featuring props

  4. Children’s activities like worksheets and a scavenger hunt

  5. The “Futures Test”, a survey which gathers data about your knowledge of BCIs and sci-fi and concludes with a prediction about which fictional BCI device would be most useful to you

The final setup of the Zurich installation, and Nataliya is giving a guided tour. The first installation took place in a church.

DA-Z New Media Art Festival, Zurich, Switzerland — October 27 - November 1, 2021

MIT Media Lab Museum and Cambridge Science Festival — March 2022 - present

Left: All the props designed or collected for the installation. Right: An example of the double-sided information cards that are placed next to each prop.

Print Media