Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Outside of academics, I am researching at a neurovascular imaging lab. In my research I investigate the relationship between disease-related text reports and their corresponding images. The intersection of medicine and technology is immediate in our current society, as many hospitals have adopted research into their operations, allowing patients to participate in new forms of treatment using novel technologies. Modern concepts like medical imaging and chemotherapy has proven to be effective in assisting the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The marriage between medicine and technology has already been applied by healthcare pioneers such as IBM's Watson, which aims to use machine learning methods to assist in different aspects of healthcare.

IBM Watson, a machine learning-powered software that could revolutionize healthcare 

The goal of my research is to create a predicative model that can create a diagnosis and treatment plan for stroke patients based on their medical imaging. This model very much resembles the Artificial Intelligence in Steven Spielberg's 2001 film, A.I., in particular the robotic teddy bear, Teddy, who takes the initiative to care for a child's wellbeing. Spielberg's film is a modern adaptation of the concept of medical technology in an art form, and was well received by audiences. More recently, the film Big Hero 6 also depicted the concept of an AI personal healthcare assistant, through the main character Baymax. This demonstrates the popularity of medical technology among artists and the general anticipation for such innovation in society.

The resource that most influenced me from this week's material was researcher and psychology professor Virgil Wong's experimentation with a 'Psychiatric Robot Analyst' using neuroimaing techniques. His work with fMRI images reminded me of the image data I processed in my research, and expanded my horizons on the possible artistic and scientific work that can be done with existing medical information. I have seen many working on fMRIs but few in the field of psychology.
I found it interesting how medical images can also become a medium for art and expression.

Wong uses fMRI scans to investigate the psychological states of participants 

This brings me to the question of whether we can incorporate artificial intelligence into art forms, not as subjects but as composers. I have seen neural networks create paintings, but to which state should we begin crediting these works as works by AI themselves, or by its creators?

Sources:

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 July 2016. 

Wong, Virgil. "Psychiatric Robot Analyst With Neuroimaging – Virgil Wong." Psychiatric Robot Analyst With Neuroimaging. VW, n.d. Web. 04 July 2016. 

"IBM Watson Healthcare Collaboration with Cleveland Clinic - Technology Org." Technology Org. N.p., 08 Aug. 2013. Web. 04 July 2016. 

Denmead, Ken. "The Technology of Big Hero 6 - GeekDad." GeekDad. N.p., 01 Oct. 2014. Web. 04 July 2016.

"Flexible, Conductive, Pressure Sensing Electronic Skin |." Medgadget. N.p., 28 June 2016. Web. 04 July 2016. 

Media:"A.I. Artificial Intelligence - the Significance of Teddy (film Analysis)." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 July 2016. 

"IBM Watson Healthcare Collaboration with Cleveland Clinic - Technology Org." Technology Org. N.p., 08 Aug. 2013. Web. 04 July 2016. 

Wong, Virgil. "Psychiatric Robot Analyst With Neuroimaging – Virgil Wong." Psychiatric Robot Analyst With Neuroimaging. VW, n.d. Web. 04 July 2016.