Week Four Blog: Medicine, Technology, and Art

A few weeks ago, I got a pretty severe concussion. It was really scary because I could not remember what had happened or basic information, and I still do not remember the 30 minutes directly after. I went to the hospital, and I received both X-rays and a CAT (computed axial tomography) scan of my head. As Professor Vesna said, X-rays are taken for granted; however, I am thankful for Wilhelm Rontgen’s invention. These technologies helped ensure I was safe and healthy, and they do the same for others everyday.

A photo of a chest X-ray (“X-ray: Imaging test quickly helps diagnosis)

The X-rays and the CAT scan I received confirmed that my only injury was a concussion and bruising, nothing worse. I am very grateful for them. One might think that my time at the hospital was stressful and would make me more nervous; however, I felt more comfortable knowing that there were professionals making sure I was safe and secure, so I was able to relax, rather than being nervous as I was during the car ride to the hospital.

A photo of a head CAT scan (“CT scan”)

In Silvia Casini’s “Magnetic Resonance Imaging as Mirror and Portrait,” she cites Kenneth Wilkes: “within the tight, claustrophobic compartment of the MRI, one is forced to observe them…when was the last time that most of us can say we have witnessed our thoughts without the distractions of the outside world for even ten minutes?” (Casini 79). When I was in the hospital, I did not have my phone, and when I was receiving the CAT scan I felt similar to how Wilkes describes the artistic experience of being in an MRI–I was left to my own thoughts and imagination.

Chip Girl, her hand that has the chip in it, and her unlocking her front door with the chip in her hand (“Tired of losing keys?...)

According to Professor Vesna, Kevin Warwick implanted a microchip into his forearm in order to become a cyborg. With the chip he was not only able to open doors and turn on lights, but he also was able to connect neurally with his wife. He also hopes to fight schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and blindness (Wingfield). Learning about Warwick reminded me of a Youtube video I saw of a girl called “Chip Girl,” who has a RFID chip embedded in her hand in order to lock doors, open cupboards, and turn on lights in her house (Young). I think the chips can be very useful and amazing for diseases that have not been cured, but there are also safety concerns, such as hacking, and long-term health concerns (Savage).



Works Cited

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as mirror and portrait: MRI configurations between science and the arts.” Configurations vol. 19,1 (2011): 73-99. doi:10.1353/con.2011.0008

“CT scan.” Mayo Clinic, 6 January 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ct-scan/about/pac-20393675. Accessed 22 April 2022.

Savage, Maddy. “Thousands Of Swedes Are Inserting Microchips Under Their Skin.” NPR, 22 October 2018, https://www.npr.org/2018/10/22/658808705/thousands-of-swedes-are-inserting-microchips-under-their-skin. Accessed 22 April 2022.

“Tired of losing keys? Now, get chip installed for unlocking doors hassle-free.” WION, 13 October 2021, https://www.wionews.com/world/tired-of-losing-keys-now-get-chip-installed-for-unlocking-doors-hassle-free-420389. Accessed 22 April 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. (2022). “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/Robotic Art” DESMA 9. Class lecture at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 2022.

Wingfield, Jonathan. “I, Robot.” W Magazine, 31 December 2010, https://www.wmagazine.com/story/kevin-warwick-cyborg-scientist. Accessed 22 April 2022.

“X-ray: Imaging test quickly helps diagnosis.” Mayo Clinic, 11 February 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/x-ray/about/pac-20395303. Accessed 22 April 2022.

Young, Molly. “Who is Chip Girl from TikTok and what is her real name?” The Focus, 14 January 2022, https://www.thefocus.news/celebrity/chip-girl-real-name/. Accessed 22 April 2022.

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