Exploring the new humanity emerging from the integration of humans and computers

When humans integrate with computers, to what extent are we still ourselves? Computers are no longer just tools for humans, but are deeply intervening in our bodies and behavior. When humans integrate with computers and acquire abilities and different bodies beyond what we currently possess, how do we define our own humanity?

I am researching “Cybernetic Humanity,” which is a new concept of humanity that emerges from the integration of humans and computers, through the intersection of computer science and human science. My research will focus on augmenting perception, cognition, and embodiment, elucidating the ‘self’ through subjective experiences and understanding the dynamics of humanity that are woven by the integration of humans and computers.

The exploration of Cybernetic Humanity requires connecting and discussing the contradictory and complex nature of augmented physicality and inherited humanity. To tackle this, I adopt not only a reductive approach but also a circular experiential research process that involves creating and analyzing new “experiences” of the body and humanity as an open system.

I aim to bring about new science in human-computer integration and lead to co-evolutionary and co-creative relationships between humans and computers

人間とコンピュータが融合した時、自分はどこまで自分か。今やコンピュータは単なる道具ではなく、我々の身体や行動に深く介在しています。人間がコンピュータと融合し、人間本来を超えた能力や異なる身体を獲得する時、自分はどこまで自分であるのか。私は「Cybernetic Humanity」という、人とコンピュータが融合することで生み出される新たな人間性を提唱し、コンピュータ科学と人間科学の両側面からアプローチし、探求しています。
人間とコンピュータが融合することでもたらされる知覚認知や身体能力の拡張と、私たちの「自己」を構成する主観性の解明、そして人間とコンピュータが融合して織りなす人間性のダイナミクスを、多角的に研究していきます。私の研究を通して、人間とコンピュータの共進化・共創的な関係を可能にするテクノロジーに加えて、人間ー コンピュータ融合における新しいサイエンスをもたらすことを目標にしています。

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Shunichi Kasahara / 笠原 俊一

Shunichi Kasahara, Ph.D., currently serves as a project leader and researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL), a position he has held since 2014. Concurrently, he is a visiting researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) from 2023 for running Cybernetic Humanity Studio—a collaboration between Sony CSL and OIST. He received his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Information Studies from the University of Tokyo in 2017. His professional career commenced at Sony Corporation in 2008, followed by an affiliate researcher at MIT Media Lab in 2012. At present, Kasahara is leading research on “Cybernetic Humanity,” exploring the new humanity that is emerging from the integration of humans and computers. His significant contributions to the field have been presented at computer science conferences such as ACM CHI, UIST, SAP and SIGGRAPH, and published in various scientific journals. His work also extends to the development of interactive exhibitions and the implementation of social solutions.

博士（学際情報学）株式会社ソニーコンピュータサイエンス研究所(Sony CSL) リサーチャー、Cybernetic Humanity プロジェクトリーダー、沖縄科学技術大学院大学(OIST) 客員研究員、科学技術振興機構さきがけ研究員。2017年東京大学大学院情報学環博士課程修了。2008年ソニー（株）入社後、MIT media lab 客員研究員等を経て、2014年よりソニーコンピュータサイエンス研究所にリサーチャーとして参画。 人とコンピュータが融合することで生み出される“新たな人間性 : Cybernetic Humanity “を主題として、コンピュータ科学と人間科学の両側面からのアプローチを通じて探究。研究成果はコンピュータグラフィクスやHuman-Computer Interactionの主要国際会議やテックカンファレンスでの発表に加え、研究の体験化作品の展示・テクノロジーの社会実装を行う。2023年よりソニーCSLとOISTの共同研究の一環でCybernetic Humanity Studioにて活動する。

I am working as a researcher/project leader at SonyCSL

contact : kasahara [ a t ] csl.sony.co.jp