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Thesis Defence: Humanizing Data: A Digital Art & Humanities Exploration of Empathy, Biometrics, and Immersive Technologies
November 26 at 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Carla Mather, supervised by Dr. Megan Smith, will defend their thesis titled “Humanizing Data: A Digital Art & Humanities Exploration of Empathy, Biometrics, and Immersive Technologies” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Digital Arts & Humanities theme.
An abstract for Carla Mather’s thesis is included below.
Defences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences.
Abstract
Humanizing Data explores how mixed-reality (MR) systems can convert living biometric data into multisensory artworks that foster empathy. Grounded in the author’s lived experience of mirror-touch synesthesia, the thesis fuses research-creation with somaesthetic and NeuroDesign principles to develop a seven-point “Synthesizing Framework.” Through a series of practice-based projects, VR and MR scenarios, projection-mapped wedding cakes and live theatre performances, the work continually integrates visual, haptic, auditory, and some olfactory cues.
The thesis makes two main contributions: (1) a multidisciplinary design framework that combines HCI usability heuristics with artistic‑HCI, somaesthetic, and neuro‑adaptive principles; and (2) an indication showing that, when properly designed, multisensory mixed reality experiences provide a more authentic sense of “felt” fidelity than MR‑only environments for empathy‑centred experiences. By demonstrating how data can be experienced as felt rather than just seen, Humanizing Data offers a pathway for artists, designers, and professionals aiming to foster deeper, body‑to‑body understanding through immersive technology.
