Steve Mann, James Fung, Corey Manders

Living as Cyborgs

Trapped in a subjugatory Computer-Mediated Reality that extends to all hours of our day-to-day lives

The locks on the briefcases are fingerprint scanners that recognize we're EXISTech employees,so that the briefcases can only be opened by persons who are NOT EXISTech employees.

The locks on the briefcases are fingerprint scanners that recognize we're EXISTech employees,so that the briefcases can only be opened by persons who are NOT EXISTech employees.

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Abstract

We describe the unfair and inhumane working conditions that we face as Assistant Mailroom Clerks of EXISTech Corporation. Through compulsory wearing of computer-enhanced ``smart'' uniforms, we are forced to live in a Computer-Mediated Mixed Reality where our every interaction with other people is mediated and managed by EXISTech. Firstly we describe the degrading, humiliating, and downright dehumanizing decontamination process we must undergo every time we enter our Local Branch Office at 80 Spadina Avenue, in Toronto. The mandatory wearing of uniforms is a degrading practice very much like what prisoners undergo. Worse yet, our uniforms track our every movement with electrodes monitoring our bodies. We can't take off our uniforms even when we're away from our Branch Office, whether we're at lunch, shopping, or just passing through Canada Customs. Our Laser EyeTap eyeglasses are fitted with two metal bands that go around the backs of our heads to ensure we can't take the glasses off. This forces us to photograph and videotape any of our business clients and contacts, or anyone else we might meet, from lowly fellow mail-room clerks all the way up to a judge. We are not even allowed (or able) to open our briefcases for routine searches by police, without first fingerprinting the police or other officials. Our managers have such little trust in us, that our fingerprint scanning briefcases are programmed so that only persons not employed by EXISTech Corporation can open the cases. This action by our management suggests that we're trusted even less than randomly selected persons whether homeless or law enforcement. Clearly, as Cyborgs, we are the lowest members of society. In this paper we warn you that it's no fun being at the very bottom of the Corporate hierarchy.

Artists / Authors

Origination

Canada, 2001

URL

» http://wearcam.org/cast01.htm

Submission

Steve Mann, Jun 15, 2001

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