Woven Truths by Wojciech Kowalski

Fragment of a Woven Truths panel, merging traditional craft with decentralized verification.

What if we could weave our own tapestry of verified truths, free from centralized control?

Woven Truths: A speculative exploration into a future where blockchain empowers citizen journalists to forge a new era of radical transparency and shared truth.

Kowalski_12429, Poland

Description

In an age where truth is malleable, how do we reclaim trust? This speculative design envisions a future of radical transparency in news dissemination. Inspired by the intricate geometry of *wycinanki*, we present a visual exploration of a decentralized, citizen-led news network. Witness how blockchain technology intertwines with collective verification, challenging traditional media hierarchies, allowing for a collective experience of information creation and dissemination, prompting an artistic meditation that explores the forces shaping our shared digital realities.

Context

The world is both familiar and unsettling. Corporate power has waned, replaced by a resurgence of localized communities. Digital connectivity is ubiquitous, yet trust in centralized institutions is shattered. Amidst vibrant pockets of cultural revival drawing from folk traditions, a shared sense of vulnerability mingles with a fierce desire for authenticity. A globally connected, hyper-local society that actively participates in information verification which creates and maintains a collective commitment to truth.

Provocation

This project challenges you to reconsider your relationship with information. As media becomes increasingly manipulated, exploring alternative systems is important. The rise of platformed misinformation should concern you. By examining this speculated future, reflect on the balance between individual agency and collective responsibility in building a trustworthy information future. Question authority.

Kowalski_12429's process

Kowalski, drawing from sacred geometry, fine art, and emotional experiences, and Polish cultural influences and Eastern European craft, explores themes of authenticity that deeply inspires his approach. By integrating the symbolic geometric patterns of *wycinanki* with matrix based visualizations, the core of system is built. Kowalski's artistic explorations are guided by a media philosophical framework that seeks to challenge assumptions, aiming to unearth fundamental truths about the future of perception and reality. For this project, conceptualizing algorithmic sensitivities within a decentralized network becomes key.

More about Kowalski_12429

Events leading to ‘Woven Truths’

2024: Increased awareness and concern over deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation.

2026: Initial experiments with blockchain for news verification gain traction in independent media circles.

2028: Development of user-friendly tools for creating and verifying blockchain-secured multimedia content.

2029: The Citizen Journalism Authenticity Protocol (CJAP) is established as an open-source standard.

2030: Growing adoption of CJAP by citizen journalists and alternative news organizations worldwide.

2031: Legal challenges and debates around the regulation and censorship of blockchain-based news.

Imagined Future Scenarios Considered

Kowalski_12429 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project

Media companies use brain-computer interfaces to directly gauge audience emotional responses to content, allowing them to fine-tune experiences.

Extrapolated from The Prophet Business - The New York Review of Books

Deepfake technology will simulate historical figures debating pardon decisions on live streamed media.

Extrapolated from Joe Biden Pardoned Marcus Garvey. Is It Enough? - Rolling Stone

News sources will use blockchain to publicly document their reporting process, enhancing credibility and fighting misinformation.

Extrapolated from Joe Biden Pardoned Marcus Garvey. Is It Enough? - Rolling Stone

Holographic media becomes commonplace, offering fully customizable and interactive entertainment and news experiences directly in people's homes.

Extrapolated from The Prophet Business - The New York Review of Books

AI-trained robots create highly individualized news articles instantly, each user gaining tailored information based on their digital footprint.

Extrapolated from Futuristic, Alien-Inspired Innovation At Gaurav Gupta’s Haute Couture Show - Forbes

Hypothetical Product Ideas Considered

Kowalski_12429 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project

Global Empathy Network

A decentralized, opt-in platform where individuals can securely share their emotional experiences with others worldwide via BCI. The platform facilitates collective emotional awareness, empathy-building exercises, and collaborative problem-solving focused on global challenges. Strives to bridge cultural gaps.

Citizen Journalism Authenticity Protocol (CJAP)

A free, open-source protocol that allows citizens to securely record and share news events using blockchain. Videos and photos are cryptographically signed and time-stamped, ensuring their authenticity and provenance. A decentralized network vets and verifies the information contributed, providing a credible alternative to traditional media.

Global History Dialogue: AI Facilitated Deliberation Platform

A collaborative online platform where users from diverse backgrounds can engage in structured discussions about historical events, guided by AI that uses deepfake technology (ethically) to present different perspectives voiced by historical figures. Facilitates cross-cultural understanding and critical analysis of historical narratives.

Community Holographic Storytelling Platform

A decentralized platform that empowers local communities to create and share their own holographic stories, preserving cultural heritage, promoting local narratives, and fostering a sense of belonging. Think hyperlocal holographic news and documentaries.

Historical Empathy Engine: Role-Playing Deepfake Simulation

An immersive VR experience where users step into the shoes of historical figures during critical moments, using ethical deepfakes to simulate conversations and debates. Designed to foster empathy, understanding, and nuanced perspectives on complex historical issues, focusing on the human element behind figures and outcomes.

Sentient Storytelling Collective

A media initiative where artists and technologists collaborate to create immersive, emotionally resonant stories based on anonymized aggregate emotional data from BCI users. This allows audiences to experience new perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of complex societal issues to promote greater understanding and drive change.

Nu-Lens: Personal AI News Mentor

A customizable AI companion that helps individuals navigate the news landscape. Powered by ethical AI principles, it recommends diverse sources, flags potential biases (including the user's own), and encourages critical analysis. It aims not to tell users what to think, but to equip them with the tools to be informed and responsible news consumers and creators.

Holographic Empathy Training Program

Immersive holographic experiences that simulate the lives and perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds and marginalized communities, fostering empathy and promoting social justice. Allows users to experience the world through another's eyes.

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