Alexander Hayes on AR: It’s a shift in humanity, not in technology!

Socrates /

Posted on: February 21, 2014 / Last Modified: August 26, 2021

Alexander Hayes is an Australian researcher and Ph.D. candidate investigating the social implications of augmented reality (AR) technologies such as Google Glass. I met Hayes during last year’s ISTAS13 conference in Toronto and the consequent UAV Drones: Pros vs Cons symposium, where he was one of the key organizers. During the course of these events I was quickly impressed by Alex both personally and professionally, and thus I knew that I had to interview Alex on Singularity 1on1 so that he can share the findings of his research.

During our 1 hour conversation with Hayes we cover a variety of interesting topics such as: his interest in augmented reality and drone technology; whether Google Glass is a slam dunk game-changing device; “normalization” of technology; the break-down of public and private space; privacy, security and surveillance; physiological shifts in the brain resulting from Google Glass’ electromagnetic and/or radiation emissions; the benefits for education, training, policing and other activities; whether Google Glass is good or bad; Vernor Vinge’s Rainbows End; drones for good and drones for bad; augmented reality, augmented humanity and the process of chipification…

alexander_hayes

My favorite quotes that I will take away from this interview with Alexander Hayes are:

“It’s a shift in humanity; it’s not a shift in technology” [on Google Glass and similar devices]

and

“Beware the implications of your involvement with technology!”

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunesmake a direct donation or become a patron on Patreon.

 

Who is Alexander Hayes?

Alexander Hayes is an acknowledged expert on emerging technology in an educational context. He is regularly invited to speak of the impacts that these technologies have on workforce development and more broadly on the implications for society in general.

Key research focus areas include unmanned aerial systems, national security, wearable technology, privacy, information communication technology, social media, networked and mobile learning.

Alexander Hayes is a Web Developer at the Australian National University, Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, School of International, Political and Strategic Studies. He is a web administrator for the Serving Our Country project, a history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the defence of Australia under the supervision of Professor Joan Beaumont.

Alexander Hayes has recently been appointed as a Professional Associate with the College of Adjuncts at the University of Canberra, Bruce ACT until July 2016 engaging with UC researchers, contributing to research projects and the broader research community under the supervision of Professor Robert Fitzgerald.

Alexander Hayes is currently completing a PhD. at the University of Wollongong, NSW within the Faculty of Informatics, School of Information Systems & Technology under the supervision of Associate Professor Katina Michael. His research is leading the way academics and practitioners alike are thinking about the impact of new and emergent technologies such as Google Glass.

In early 2013 Alexander spent 6 weeks in Finland as a Visiting Researcher at Aalto University, Media Lab Helsinki visiting his co-supervisor Professor Teemu Leinonen.  As a research group member he was immediately drawn into the final preparations and implementation of the Department of Media, Open Design Conference, along with a team of researchers and project team members who are part of the Learning Layers Project, a large-scale research project co-funded by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme.

Father of four children, married and happily living in Canberra, Australia he enjoys community activities, cycling and travel amidst a busy schedule of work and research.

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