I had the privilege of discussing my work on digital touch and consent during The Hmm event on 19 April at the Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam Noord. It was truly delightful to connect with fellow speakers and delve into the theme of non-visual internet culture that shaped this edition. While many speakers focused on audio-based content creation online, I was glad to contribute by addressing the realm of haptics.
In the realm of touch-based technology, the significance of consent and trust cannot be overstated. Touch holds a pivotal role in our interpersonal interactions. The ethical dimensions of consent, safety, agency, and trust are fundamental to the touch experience. With the rapid advancements in technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, it has become imperative to initiate a discourse on the ethics surrounding digital social and affective touch interactions.
My ongoing projects and research, such as the Consent Pods, seek to explore the social and ethical implications of consent within both digital and physical interactions.