This document proposes a framework for augmenting human compassion using interactive digital media. It begins with defining key terms like "meta-mood" to describe compassion. It reviews approaches like cognitive/physiological analysis using brain imaging and behavioral analysis. The goals are to discover factors influencing compassion and develop methods to augment it using digital media. Future research could explore interactive digital art's effects on empathy, stress reduction, and openness to experience. The framework aims to quantify compassion changes over time with different types of media interactions.
Individuals often do not know their own mind. Most thinking is automatic and frequently unchecked. During waking hours, the separation between mind and consciousness is not often discernible. The character of consciousness makes the mind both simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that if a person has awareness, they are in charge of what they are thinking, feeling, and doing. Complex in that seeming awareness is often compromised, clouded by an unconscious (subconscious) mind.
A discussion of the rights of sentient entities. Drawing inspiration from quantum complementarity, defends a complementary notion of ontological dualism, countering zombie hypotheses. Sans zombie concerns, ethical discussions should therefore focus on assessing consciousness purely in terms of the physical-functional properties of any putatively conscious entity.
The critical reflection of the aspects of emotional intelligence can be put on account of the different epistemological perspectives, reflecting a maturity of the concept. There is a need to find consistent empirical evidence for the dimensionality of emotional intelligence and to develop appropriate methods for its correct and useful measurement. A concern of researchers is whether emotional intelligence is a theory of personality, a form of intelligence, or a combination of both. Many studies consider emotional intelligence to be a personal factor associated with competence. But most researchers consider emotional intelligence as an emotional awareness of oneself and others, in addition to professional efficiency and emotional management.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19339.11045
Individuals often do not know their own mind. Most thinking is automatic and frequently unchecked. During waking hours, the separation between mind and consciousness is not often discernible. The character of consciousness makes the mind both simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that if a person has awareness, they are in charge of what they are thinking, feeling, and doing. Complex in that seeming awareness is often compromised, clouded by an unconscious (subconscious) mind.
A discussion of the rights of sentient entities. Drawing inspiration from quantum complementarity, defends a complementary notion of ontological dualism, countering zombie hypotheses. Sans zombie concerns, ethical discussions should therefore focus on assessing consciousness purely in terms of the physical-functional properties of any putatively conscious entity.
The critical reflection of the aspects of emotional intelligence can be put on account of the different epistemological perspectives, reflecting a maturity of the concept. There is a need to find consistent empirical evidence for the dimensionality of emotional intelligence and to develop appropriate methods for its correct and useful measurement. A concern of researchers is whether emotional intelligence is a theory of personality, a form of intelligence, or a combination of both. Many studies consider emotional intelligence to be a personal factor associated with competence. But most researchers consider emotional intelligence as an emotional awareness of oneself and others, in addition to professional efficiency and emotional management.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19339.11045
the transcript of speech at IASDR 2009 conference
[slides available at http://www.slideshare.net/urijoe/paper-presentation-at-iasdr-2009-seoul-south-korea]
Sequel to "Transcending Death during COVID-19" Are scientific world-views con...Paul H. Carr
Religions people are more accepting of NDEs than scientists
For theologian Paul Tillich, "Our lives are limited in time but fulfilled by eternity. When we die, we return to the eternity from which we came."
What is eternity?
For Tillich, eternity is not unlimited time, but a dimension beyond time that enables us to to sense events as happening in temporal sequence.
"For the things that are seen are temporal, but things that are unseen are eternal" (Paul's Letter to II Corinthians.)
For Greeks like Pythagoras and Plato, mathematical relations are eternal, beautiful, and cosmic. Is God a mathematician?
For physicist-philosopher Paul H. Carr, beauty is a delicate dance between our subjective consciousness and the objective mathematical relationships that maintain the universe and life.
NDEs give evidence of out-of-body consciousness.
What is consciousness?
Cosmologist MIT Prof Max Tegman believes consciousness will increasingly be realized as mathematical patterns.
Consciousness for us is what information processing feels like, but this is not only material.
Anthropologist Berkley Prof Terry Deacon, believes that consciousness emerges from the firing of brain neurons but cannot be reduced to them.
Is the material world the ultimate, ontological reality? What about energy, and Spirit?
Religious Spirit is similar to scientific energy. We don't observe them directly, but infer their existence as a way of unifying complex phenomena.
Science's emergence to answer HOW is converging beautifully with religion's synthesis to answer WHY.
PERPETUAL SELF CONFLICT: SELF AWARENESS AS A KEYMurray Hunter
PERPETUAL SELF CONFLICT: SELF AWARENESS AS A KEY
TO OUR ETHICAL DRIVE, PERSONAL MASTERY, AND
PERCEPTION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2011, pp. 96-137
Paper title: Syncretic Social Agency: Deterritorialised Robotics and Mixed Reality Data Transfer Systems.. Apolgies for formatting issues from this being a .doc!!
FROM GLOBAL JAWAB ORGANIZATION
OF THOUGHT AND HUMAN CULTURE
Mclaen, VA, United States
Man: Value and Ethics
http://basiclerights.blogspot.com/
http://wehuman.wordpress.com/
Concept Of Thought Security Intricacies And Alternatives (A Research Implies Theories, Concepts And Treatments)(2)
Re-Innovating Innovation: The Case for Emerging MarketsInfosys
Market players that have learnt to compete on volume despite low margins in a tough environment have also developed a lethal capability to explode premium market barriers in mature markets. Western incumbents will only be able to win this race as long as they can compete and excel not only at home, but more importantly, in the rough-and-tumble of emerging markets.
Know more: http://www.infosys.com/building-tomorrows-enterprise/emerging-economies/Pages/index.aspx
Deriving Business Value from Social NetworksInfosys
How do some people sway public opinion where others fail? What's the secret behind personal influence? How important are connections? These have become all-important questions in our age of social networking. Social networks have expanded the influence of connections to unimaginable proportions. Clearly, there is business value to be derived from networks. It's no wonder then that the science of social networks has kindled interest among industry think tanks and corporate executives.Read more: http://bit.ly/Njs9MX
the transcript of speech at IASDR 2009 conference
[slides available at http://www.slideshare.net/urijoe/paper-presentation-at-iasdr-2009-seoul-south-korea]
Sequel to "Transcending Death during COVID-19" Are scientific world-views con...Paul H. Carr
Religions people are more accepting of NDEs than scientists
For theologian Paul Tillich, "Our lives are limited in time but fulfilled by eternity. When we die, we return to the eternity from which we came."
What is eternity?
For Tillich, eternity is not unlimited time, but a dimension beyond time that enables us to to sense events as happening in temporal sequence.
"For the things that are seen are temporal, but things that are unseen are eternal" (Paul's Letter to II Corinthians.)
For Greeks like Pythagoras and Plato, mathematical relations are eternal, beautiful, and cosmic. Is God a mathematician?
For physicist-philosopher Paul H. Carr, beauty is a delicate dance between our subjective consciousness and the objective mathematical relationships that maintain the universe and life.
NDEs give evidence of out-of-body consciousness.
What is consciousness?
Cosmologist MIT Prof Max Tegman believes consciousness will increasingly be realized as mathematical patterns.
Consciousness for us is what information processing feels like, but this is not only material.
Anthropologist Berkley Prof Terry Deacon, believes that consciousness emerges from the firing of brain neurons but cannot be reduced to them.
Is the material world the ultimate, ontological reality? What about energy, and Spirit?
Religious Spirit is similar to scientific energy. We don't observe them directly, but infer their existence as a way of unifying complex phenomena.
Science's emergence to answer HOW is converging beautifully with religion's synthesis to answer WHY.
PERPETUAL SELF CONFLICT: SELF AWARENESS AS A KEYMurray Hunter
PERPETUAL SELF CONFLICT: SELF AWARENESS AS A KEY
TO OUR ETHICAL DRIVE, PERSONAL MASTERY, AND
PERCEPTION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2011, pp. 96-137
Paper title: Syncretic Social Agency: Deterritorialised Robotics and Mixed Reality Data Transfer Systems.. Apolgies for formatting issues from this being a .doc!!
FROM GLOBAL JAWAB ORGANIZATION
OF THOUGHT AND HUMAN CULTURE
Mclaen, VA, United States
Man: Value and Ethics
http://basiclerights.blogspot.com/
http://wehuman.wordpress.com/
Concept Of Thought Security Intricacies And Alternatives (A Research Implies Theories, Concepts And Treatments)(2)
Re-Innovating Innovation: The Case for Emerging MarketsInfosys
Market players that have learnt to compete on volume despite low margins in a tough environment have also developed a lethal capability to explode premium market barriers in mature markets. Western incumbents will only be able to win this race as long as they can compete and excel not only at home, but more importantly, in the rough-and-tumble of emerging markets.
Know more: http://www.infosys.com/building-tomorrows-enterprise/emerging-economies/Pages/index.aspx
Deriving Business Value from Social NetworksInfosys
How do some people sway public opinion where others fail? What's the secret behind personal influence? How important are connections? These have become all-important questions in our age of social networking. Social networks have expanded the influence of connections to unimaginable proportions. Clearly, there is business value to be derived from networks. It's no wonder then that the science of social networks has kindled interest among industry think tanks and corporate executives.Read more: http://bit.ly/Njs9MX
Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Risk Data GovernanceInfosys
This paper examines the need for a comprehensive data governance solution and highlights how it creates a competitive edge for the financial institution.
Project NEMO - towards empathy-enabling digital environmentsKatri Saarikivi
A presentation on the interdisciplinary research project NEMO (Natural Emotions in digital interaction) that won the science-based idea competition arranged by the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki Challenge, in 2015. Presented at the Presented at the Digital International Collaboration in Education seminar arranged by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture on May 26th, 2016.
Introduction to the Compassionate Systems Framework in SchoolsGlenn Klith Andersen
In education, where interest in social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness, and systems thinking is growing, we find both an opportunity and a need to develop models of thinking and teaching that prepare students to better understand and respond to the systems to which these issues belong. We draw from established SEL models, together with developments in the emerging field of complexity science and the study of systems, to establish a framework—what we call a “compassionate systems” framework—for building a cognitive and affective foundation for global citizenship. This framework conceptualizes compassion as an essentially systemic property of mind: to cultivate compassion is to be able to appreciate the systemic forces that influence people’s feelings, thoughts and actions.
A CASE STUDY ON AUTO SOCIALIZATION IN ONLINE PLATFORMSIJMIT JOURNAL
Auto socialization Theory[1][2]is a socialization theory, introduced by Swedish Social Psychology
Professor Emeritus Lars Dencik, Roskilde University Center (RUC) on how humans socialize, attempting
to be a part of a group by using a taxonomy in three stages. Even though the theory is based on
socialization amongst minors, the adult human uses Auto socialization to navigate everyday life in all its
aspects of interaction, including communications, collaborations through online platforms. By focusing on
the Auto socialization aspect in an online context, it is possible to explain why online platforms e.g.
Facebook, World of Warcraft are so successful in maintaining and increasing the numbers of stabile
audience and why other platforms, offering learning on a massive scale, (MOOC) facing dropout rates in
the high 80 -90’s[3][4][5].
A case study on autho socialization in online platformsIJMIT JOURNAL
Auto socialization Theory[1][2]is a socialization theory, introduced by Swedish Social Psychology Professor Emeritus Lars Dencik, Roskilde University Center (RUC) on how humans socialize, attempting to be a part of a group by using a taxonomy in three stages. Even though the theory is based on
socialization amongst minors, the adult human uses Auto socialization to navigate everyday life in all its aspects of interaction, including communications, collaborations through online platforms. By focusing on the Auto socialization aspect in an online context, it is possible to explain why online platforms e.g. Facebook, World of Warcraft are so successful in maintaining and increasing the numbers of stabile
audience and why other platforms, offering learning on a massive scale, (MOOC) facing dropout rates in the high 80 -90’s[3][4][5].
Presentation on our paper entitled "The Effects of Chronic Multitasking on Analytical Writing" that explains how trait multitaskers incorporate relevant or irrelevant information
Review and Critique of “The Origins Of Domain-Specificity: The Evolution of functional organization” by Cosmides. Leda, and John Tooby (1994)
Presentation by Christine Rosakranse
For Human-Media Interaction,
Professor Carlos Godoy, RPI
PHP Frameworks: I want to break free (IPC Berlin 2024)Ralf Eggert
In this presentation, we examine the challenges and limitations of relying too heavily on PHP frameworks in web development. We discuss the history of PHP and its frameworks to understand how this dependence has evolved. The focus will be on providing concrete tips and strategies to reduce reliance on these frameworks, based on real-world examples and practical considerations. The goal is to equip developers with the skills and knowledge to create more flexible and future-proof web applications. We'll explore the importance of maintaining autonomy in a rapidly changing tech landscape and how to make informed decisions in PHP development.
This talk is aimed at encouraging a more independent approach to using PHP frameworks, moving towards a more flexible and future-proof approach to PHP development.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
"Impact of front-end architecture on development cost", Viktor TurskyiFwdays
I have heard many times that architecture is not important for the front-end. Also, many times I have seen how developers implement features on the front-end just following the standard rules for a framework and think that this is enough to successfully launch the project, and then the project fails. How to prevent this and what approach to choose? I have launched dozens of complex projects and during the talk we will analyze which approaches have worked for me and which have not.
Connector Corner: Automate dynamic content and events by pushing a buttonDianaGray10
Here is something new! In our next Connector Corner webinar, we will demonstrate how you can use a single workflow to:
Create a campaign using Mailchimp with merge tags/fields
Send an interactive Slack channel message (using buttons)
Have the message received by managers and peers along with a test email for review
But there’s more:
In a second workflow supporting the same use case, you’ll see:
Your campaign sent to target colleagues for approval
If the “Approve” button is clicked, a Jira/Zendesk ticket is created for the marketing design team
But—if the “Reject” button is pushed, colleagues will be alerted via Slack message
Join us to learn more about this new, human-in-the-loop capability, brought to you by Integration Service connectors.
And...
Speakers:
Akshay Agnihotri, Product Manager
Charlie Greenberg, Host
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
Neuro-symbolic is not enough, we need neuro-*semantic*Frank van Harmelen
Neuro-symbolic (NeSy) AI is on the rise. However, simply machine learning on just any symbolic structure is not sufficient to really harvest the gains of NeSy. These will only be gained when the symbolic structures have an actual semantics. I give an operational definition of semantics as “predictable inference”.
All of this illustrated with link prediction over knowledge graphs, but the argument is general.
Search and Society: Reimagining Information Access for Radical FuturesBhaskar Mitra
The field of Information retrieval (IR) is currently undergoing a transformative shift, at least partly due to the emerging applications of generative AI to information access. In this talk, we will deliberate on the sociotechnical implications of generative AI for information access. We will argue that there is both a critical necessity and an exciting opportunity for the IR community to re-center our research agendas on societal needs while dismantling the artificial separation between the work on fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethics in IR and the rest of IR research. Instead of adopting a reactionary strategy of trying to mitigate potential social harms from emerging technologies, the community should aim to proactively set the research agenda for the kinds of systems we should build inspired by diverse explicitly stated sociotechnical imaginaries. The sociotechnical imaginaries that underpin the design and development of information access technologies needs to be explicitly articulated, and we need to develop theories of change in context of these diverse perspectives. Our guiding future imaginaries must be informed by other academic fields, such as democratic theory and critical theory, and should be co-developed with social science scholars, legal scholars, civil rights and social justice activists, and artists, among others.
Let's dive deeper into the world of ODC! Ricardo Alves (OutSystems) will join us to tell all about the new Data Fabric. After that, Sezen de Bruijn (OutSystems) will get into the details on how to best design a sturdy architecture within ODC.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
1. Augmenting Human Compassion:
A Conceptual Framework
Christine Rosakranse
RPI Master's Student - HCI
288 3rd St., Unit 215
Oakland, CA
1-845-750-2189
rosakc@rpi.edu
ABSTRACT amplifying intelligence, we must become a more socially
This paper describes a framework for augmenting human responsible people. Luckily, the plasticity of our mental
compassion and the possible directions for research in this area architecture makes this a distinct, if not also necessary, possibility
with a focus on using interactive digital media. in human evolution.
While it was historically seen as the realm of parents and family
Categories and Subject Descriptors (in society at large) to instill compassion and empathy, several
H.5.1 [Multimedia Information Systems]: Evaluation and proponents have come to the fore regarding compassion
methodology. augmentation including the Dalai Lama, Lappé, and Ekman [3].
In starting the search for methods that augment human
General Terms compassion using digital means, many avenues present
Measurement, Documentation, Design, Experimentation, Human themselves.
Factors, Standardization, Theory.
2. DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK
Keywords 2.1 Lexicon
Compassion augmentation, meta-mood, interactive digital media, The definition of compassion in our modern lexicon remains
interconnectivity. nebulous within the context of social interaction. Whether it is an
emotion, sentiment, or feeling has not yet been concretely
1. INTRODUCTION determined. Compassion requires a more stringent classification
In order to fully develop human potential, all resources available to include elements of behavior that compose compassion and
must be utilized to that end, including digital media. Licklider, scientific methods for measurement.
Ashby, and Engelbart have all written on the subject of In order to fully appreciate the nature and magnitude of these
augmenting or amplifying human intellect [1]. Licklider (1960) possibilities, we must borrow from the lexicon of quantum
defined a concept called “man-computer symbiosis”, a system physics as well as the fields of mathematics, specifically complex
whereby humans and computers work in conjunction to “think as dynamics, and chemistry to allow for a more robust set of terms to
no human brain has ever thought and process data in a way not describe intelligence and compassion augmentation. The initial
approached by the information-handling machines we know step of determining terminology is key because any further study
today”[2]. Engelbart believed technology could augment human would require a sound grounding in what factors effect
intellect by developing “an integrated hierarchy of cooperative compassion levels and how they do so. Within the context of
mancomputer process capabilities.” This would “step-up” the interactive digital media, these factors may be counter-intuitive or
mental abilities of a person level by level to be able to handle may include non-trivial emergent properties. Having a more exact
more complex thought processes. He also explains that, “We refer vocabulary would undermine semantic ambiguity.
to a way of life in an integrated domain where hunches, cut-and-
try, intangibles, and the human ‘feel for a situation’ usefully Some of the difficulty in soundly defining the concepts relevant to
coexist with powerful concepts, streamlined technologies and compassion augmentation stems from the family-only approach
notation, sophisticated methods, and high-powered electronic normally taken for the development of compassion in a child’s
aids”[1]. life. It is often seen as the responsibility of parents and families to
engender this value. Beyond childhood, only societal norms act to
While some research and development in this field has discovered regulate compassion. The exact nature of compassion is also
methods for augmenting human intelligence as per the nebulous enough within our society as a whole to defy easy
recommendation and work of these visionaries, another facet of definition. Definitions for compassion describe a semantic range
our potential has been left behind due to a lack of clear and of possibilities including awareness (purely knowledge), an
concise quantifiable representation. This particular facet comes in emotion, or a feeling. Examples where the ambiguous language is
the form of developing compassion. As technology improves and most obvious include the chapter on The Nature of Compassion in
we find ourselves more capable of complex problem solving when the book Emotional Awareness, which is a conversation between
working in conjunction with these technologies, the emotional the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman[3].
side of our development must also be addressed. Along with
2. As Ekman and the Dalai Lama discuss how compassion may or Then with these categories of engagement in place, testing the
may not be considered an emotion, the Dalai Lama explains, level of interaction versus the level of change or augmentation in
“Once the person experiences this heightened compassion, his or compassion becomes a matter of defining sound methodologies
her compassion retains that kind of tone throughout the day...” for measuring this state or meta-mood in a quantifiable manner.
Ekman argues against this by explaining that moods are transitory
and, therefore, compassion cannot be a mood or emotion.
However, taking the neurological definition of mood and emotion
into account, one could argue that a new term is required for
defining compassion in the sense of a long-term component of
one’s mental state.
One term that is used colloquially that comes to mind is nature.
However, nature has the connotation of being unchangeable and
fixed. For now, the term meta-mood will be used to describe
compassion, in that it is a sustained perceptual filter that governs
the overall level of compassion of an individual as well as the
level of spontaneity and unbiasedness related to prosocial actions
(kindness, sympathy, etc.). This definition is further explained in
section 3.1.3. In a similar lexical vein, creating a meta-mood
involves lowering the activation energy for a compassionate state. Figure 1. Compassion can also be seen as the result of care
Key ideas for further development include the following: and connectedness
What is compassion? Defined as meta-mood. Even with this grounding, there is still a gulf between science and
Creation thereof lowers the activation energy required for the humanities in terms of determining what components of a
prosocial behavior. human’s behavior can be effected by technology. However, the
overall process under review would be the following:
Emergent phenomena reveals multiple sources of influence for
this creation. 1) Exposure to stimulus (classified by valence and type of
interaction)
Additionally, compassion augmentation represents a form of
“cognitive hybridization.” As defined by Andy Clark, “Some 2) Cognitive processing (conscious, subconscious, unconscious)
technologies constitute a cascade of mindware upgrades -
cognitive upheavals in which the effective architecture on the 3) Change to level of compassion (as a meta-mood, includes the
human mind is altered and transformed” [4]. change to the activation energy required to enter a compassionate
state)
2.2 Theoretical Grounding 4) Resultant action (prosocial behavior, including degree of
Using the precedents set by Emotional Design, as it has begun to spontaneity and unbiasedness)
see an upswing as a mainstream approach by realizing that
emotion does play a role in interaction, and Value-sensitive
Design, which also adds weight to the implications of interface 3. LITERATURE REVIEW
design, a Grounded Theory Approach with selective coding is 3.1 General Approaches
suggested for the initial development of this research framework. Reviewing current research into related topics, including
Following the format for research performed to augment human developing empathy in children, compassion meditation studies,
intellect, the objective of this study, which includes the previous and compassion fatigue psychometric testing, has revealed three
suppositions and conjectures, is as follows: (1) to discover the general approaches to testing for elements of the meta-mood
factors that determine a given individual’s level of compassion; compassion.
and (2) to develop methods that would act to augment human
compassion. Prosocial behavior then becomes the “evidence” of a 3.1.1 Cognitive/Physiological Analysis
compassionate state. Brave and Nass have indicated that the level of activity in the
limbic and cortical regions of the brain relate to an individual’s
In this specific case, the use of interactive digital media may empathic responses [2]. In their work, Brave and Nass reveal the
provide an example for further study. With this approach we can underlying mechanisms of emotion with a figure that
use observational analysis to create conceptual categories to demonstrates the connections between the thalamus, the cortex,
define types of interaction with digital media as a first step to and the limbic system. The thalamic-limbic pathway is
gradually refine and reevaluate these connections in a more responsible for the primary emotions, while secondary emotions
formalized research setting. “result from activation of the limbic system by processing in the
The elements of engagement can be placed into the following cortex.”
categories: They then go on to cover the debate over whether or not emotion
1) perceptual/cognitive is innate or learned. Regarding this debate, Brave and Nass
2) physiological describe the middle of the two extremes where “the limbic system
is prewired to recognize the basic categories of emotion, but
3) conscious or reflective interaction social learning and higher cortical processes still play a significant
4) emergent/transcendent role in differentiation.”.
3. The experiment in the article entitled Regulation of the Neural measurements and a certain amount of self-reporting. Self-report
Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of measures, in particular, suffer from a problem with temporal
Meditative Expertise used functional magnetic resonance imaging relevance. Brave and Nass point out that “questionnaires are
(fMRI) to measure differences in brain activity between novice capable of measuring only the conscious experience of emotion
and experienced meditators, those having 10,000 plus hours of and mood. Much of affective processing, however, resides in the
Buddhist compassion mediation practice [5]. This paper identifies limbic system and in nonconscious processes.”
activity in the limbic region associated with increased levels of The dimensional theories using arousal and valence were also
compassion in buddhist monks with over 10,000 hours of used during the Compassion Mediation study and with
compassion meditation practice. They were asked two alternate correlational results. This would support that for further research,
between actively generating a condition of compassion mediation where any self-reporting is necessary, compassion should be
and refraining from the practice. tested as a mood emergent from a two-dimensional space of
In this case: “conscious emotional experience” [7]. The key lies in consistent
“The meditative practice studied here involves the intention and progression.
generation of a state in which an “unconditional feeling of 3.1.2 Behavioral Analysis
loving-kindness and compassion pervades the whole mind as a Several studies have tested subjects by utilizing behavioral
way of being, with no other consideration, or discursive analysis to reveal the presence or levels of compassion. The
thoughts” ... According to the tradition, as a result of this question of whether or not empathy is, as related to compassion,
practice, feelings and actions for the benefit of others arise more hard-wired into the brain has been tested. Frans de Waal also
readily when relevant situations arise. Our main hypothesis was writes about kindness from the evolutionary perspective [8].
thus that the concern for others cultivated during this meditation
would enhance the affective responses to emotional human Another experiment with more direct human relevance discovered
vocalizations, in particular to negative ones, and that this that when participants were given money to use, giving the money
affective response would be modulated by the degree of away to another person made them
meditation training.” feel more satisfied and happy than using it for their own personal
consumption[9]. Whether or not altruism directly relates to
They analyzed the areas of the brain associated with empathy compassion or can be seen as a resultant action of a
including the insula cortex and the somatosensory cortex. The compassionate state would also have to be further studied.
data support their main hypothesis, namely that “the brain regions Testing within a school setting has also provided some concrete
underlying emotions and feelings are modulated in response to evidence of the effectiveness of teaching children empathy and
emotional sounds as a function of the state of compassion, the compassion. The Second Step Program by the Committee for
valence of the emotional sounds and the degree of expertise”[5]. Children in Seattle teaches children empathy and measure success
One interesting way to see these results is to acknowledge that the with lower reported incidents of bullying and school violence
meditation itself, over time, changes the neurology of the [10].
practitioner in such a way that the empathy and compassion
become more automatic and spontaneous. In the section on 3.1.3 Psychometric (Self-reporting) Measures
Effects of Affect: Attention, Brave and Nass state, “people also In developing a test for compassion so that quantitative results can
often consciously regulate mood, selecting and attending to verify any changes over time, several parallel types of testing
stimuli that sustain desired moods or, alternatively, counteract present themselves as possibilities. The Positive and Negative
undesired moods” [6]. This might prove to be insightful for Affect Schedule (PANAS) as a test for mood could provide the
informing experimental design by suggesting the role of intention basis for determining the type of affect that the digital interactive
and prolonged exposure to compassion-based stimuli. media has on the subject while an additional compassion test
would be necessary to correlate that affect with a change in
Compassion meditation would then put people in a more sustained temperament equivalent to compassion development [11].
compassionate mood. I say mood because it seems to fit the
definition better than emotion. “Moods...are nonintentional; they Additionally, one method used to discover compassion in nurses is
are not directed at any object in particular and are thus a compassion fatigue test developed for caregivers. This might
experienced as more diffuse, global, and general.” This would prove useful as a before and after test to determine change in
seem to be the case with long-term practitioners of compassion overall mentality[12].
mediation. It becomes a “way of being.”
Brave and Nass support this by saying, “Intense or repetitive
4. GOALS AND FURTHER RESEARCH
As technology becomes more advanced, allowing for actual
emotional experiences tend to prolong themselves into moods”[6].
intellectual “amplification”, we must counter this with the
The Lutz, Johnstone and Davidson study used fMRI results to
augmentation of compassion as well in order to balance out the
measure affect, but Brave and Nass also suggest other methods for
human equation. As it is now understood that certain emergent
doing so, including electroencephalogram (EEG) to test
phenomena occur within the brain as well as effecting the outside
neurological responses, autonomic activity, facial expression,
world, we may expect to find a terrific potential for growth and
voice, self-report measures, and affect recognition by users.
mental evolution at the intersection of intellect and compassion.
Depending on the conditions of the study, these methods for
One specific arena for further research involves the incorporation
testing affect differ in efficacy. The Compassion Mediation study
of interactive digital media into the compassion augmentation
did not use behavioral analysis during the testing because the
process. The nexus of science and art has always been a
meditators informed them that this would interfere with the
fascinating space for conjecture, but, as the sphere of science
meditation process itself. So they has to rely on the fMRI
grows to include room for what once seemed to be purely
4. metaphysical concerns, the research is finding ways to ground the experience in mere words, and a vividness and clarity of
effects of arts in a scientifically meaningful vocabulary. The sensations and perceptions.”
process, however, has just begun. One of the personality characteristics that correspond with an
appreciation of beauty includes an openness to new experiences.
4.1 Interactive Digital Art as Co-creation This also provides another direction for continuing research.
The theory that art can effect the human mind has long been held
by artists. The connection between digital interactive art, With our current approach we will use observational analysis to
improving a user’s level of empathy, and reducing stress has been create conceptual categories to define types of interaction with
made by artists such as Barbara Buckner in her article “Healing digital media as a first step to gradually refine and reevaluate
Interactions and Interactive Digital Art” [13]. these connections in a more formalized research setting. Future
research includes testing the change in levels of compassion of
In combination with the standard forms of creative expression,
those exposed to interactive digital media over time (designed
current technology allows for the addition of interactivity and may
with the results from this research in mind). We will also be able
lead to a feeling of interconnectivity with the artist or others as
to research whether or not having a reflective component is
represented by the project. In the words of Barbara Buckner, “the
necessary and whether or not effect is an issue of intensity versus
user becomes cause in the scenario...The user builds an iterative
duration.
cycle of aesthetic relationships, and through this cycle of
perception and co-creation, fulfills the meaning of the work.” It is
this aspect of interactive digital art that would parallel the 5. CONCLUSION
intentional facet of compassion augmentation by other means, We, as humans, have the choice to use our emotions, sentiments,
including meditation. “The user is accepting responsibility for co- and moods in order to modify our behavior. In their work, Brave
creating unity through cause and effect.” and Nass reveal the underlying mechanisms of emotion by
explaining the connections between the thalamus, the cortex, and
As opposed to passive forms of artistic exposure, having the user the limbic system.
become participant introduces them to the themes inherent in the
artwork, such as harmony and integration, as a creator. The thalamic-limbic pathway is responsible for the primary
emotions, while secondary emotions “result from activation of the
Additionally, if a disconnect from a common humanity lessens limbic system by processing in the cortex.” Debate still exists
compassion or hinders its development, then key to developing over whether or not emotion is innate or learned. For the
compassion in others would be creating a palpable connection to purposes of conceptualizing a framework, the mechanism behind
others and, thereby, to humanity in general. With interactive the meta-mood compassion will be understood as malleable due to
digital art, the user changes from passive receptor of information the plastic nature of our mental architecture.
to co-creator, completing a cycle of connection and creating a
subsequent positive association. Regarding the ability to develop compassion by entering
meditative states, the experiment in the article entitled Regulation
Several additional terms can be introduced at this point: of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation:
The amount someone can interact with a piece is agency. Effects of Meditative Expertise used functional magnetic
Affordance is the quality that allows someone to perform an resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure differences in brain activity
action. between novice and experienced meditators, those having 10,000
plus hours of Buddhist compassion mediation practice.
4.2 Immersive Interactive Spaces Conclusions can be drawn from this they may inform the design
Whether in an interactive digital environment such as Second Life of compassion augmentation systems.
or an immersive “real-world” environment such as a multimedia The time has arrived for compassion augmentation and, in this
museum exhibit, the nature of the interaction may prove vital to digital age, with our astounding level of interconnectivity, the
compassion augmentation and this should also be taken into opportunity to utilize technology for this purpose cannot go
account during the framework development process. unrealized. Augmenting human intellect as a theory and
There are several communities in Second Life already devoted to aspiration has itself been itself further augmented to suggest that
teaching in new ways specifically designed for an immersive all facets of society must come together and work towards a
online experience. The London Knowledge Lab, Institute of common goal. Creating a framework for future compassion
Education, University of London, ran a research project entitled augmentation research the first step. In order to balance the
Learning from Online Worlds; Teaching In Second Life where human equation, prosocial behavior promoted by the meta-mood
they taught sessions within that context [14]. The viability of compassion should be placed alongside intelligence in our search
such an approach is increasingly proven by such experiments, for augmentation. With a sound lexicon for development and
especially as matters such as presence, trust, reciprocity, and goal- concrete designs for analysis, the path to augmenting human
oriented learning are imbued within the system. compassion is now more clearly defined.
4.3 Extending the Framework 6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Additional elements and questions can be added in order to My thanks Professors Nathan Freier and Jim Zappen for their
develop a more robust version of compassion augmentation. The support and review. Also, thanks to Christina Engelbart for her
last component may involve questions from the ABE eye-opening correspondence.
(Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence) as this approach may
also prove relevant to the investigation [15]. In their research,
Peterson and Seligman find ways to measure if a “person feeling
oneness with the universe, a sense of truth, an inability to express
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