Research Project
AI in the Shell: Towards an Understanding of Integrated Embodiment
An exoskeleton system where an AI lives "inside" the user's body and can take over control of their movements to assist with tasks, like improving their game performance. The project raises the question of what it really means for a computer to become part of your embodied experience.
Abstract
With technologies becoming increasingly intelligent, the interaction paradigm of Human-Computer Integration where computers and human form a partnership emerged. Most of these works considered computers as separate from users’ embodiment. However, in recent years, technologies are becoming increasingly closer and even interwoven with the human body. Our work asks whether computers can incorporate into one’s embodiment and form a partnership. We call this integrated embodiment. Such a paradigm might facilitate a more direct and intimate partnership between humans and computers. To exemplify the paradigm, we present AI-in-the-Shell, an exoskeleton-based system that enables users to experience having an AI residing in their body. The AI-powered system can make independent decisions and actuate the user’s body to better support their daily tasks and experiences, e.g., to enhance their game performance. We hope this work can extend the current understanding of Human-Computer Integration, and step towards a more complete understanding of integrated embodiment.
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