Heart and Soul: The Ethics of Biometric Capture in Immersive Artistic Performance

Literature Title

Heart and Soul: The Ethics of Biometric Capture in Immersive Artistic Performance

Literature Information

• Subject Area: Application and ethical challenges of biometric technology in immersive artistic performance.
• Keywords: Biometrics, Ethics, Immersive Technology, Artistic Performance, Data Privacy, Mixed Reality, HCI

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Problems or Challenges:

  • Biometric data such as EEG, heart rate, and motion tracking are increasingly applied in artistic performances, raising concerns about privacy and data management.
  • There is a lack of in-depth discussion and guidance on the ethical implications of biometric technology in performances.
  • The integration of performing arts and biometrics requires a balance between innovation and ethics.

• Significance:

  • Biometric data can drive technological innovation in artistic performances but may also pose threats to participants' or audiences' privacy and autonomy.
  • Artistic performances differ from research environments, necessitating unique ethical norms.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Conducted a feasibility literature review on the intersection of biometric technology and immersive artistic performances over the past 30 years.
  • Attempted to propose a guiding framework through the "ethics by design" approach to safeguard ethical values in artistic innovation.

Solution

• Proposed Methods or Solutions:

  • Introduced the "Biometric Ethics in Artistic Performance Framework" (BEAP Framework), summarizing seven key ethical issues related to biometric data in artistic performances:
    1. Identification of data collection subjects.
    2. Sensitivity of the types of data collected.
    3. Potential significance represented by the data.
    4. Transparency in the design of data collection devices and processes.
    5. Usage and expression of data during performances.
    6. Data storage and management.
    7. Scrutiny of the purpose behind data collection.

• Innovative Aspects:

  • Integrated specific ethical approaches from the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) domain with the unique circumstances of the arts, emphasizing ethical design throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Focused on the unique sensitivity of biometric data, such as how identity and health data impact personal privacy and artistic agency.

• Implementation Steps and Key Technologies:

  • Utilized a literature review method to organize case studies on specific technological applications, discussions of ethical issues, and existing technical solutions.
  • Proposed a design-based ethical framework encompassing privacy protection strategies, participant choice provisions (e.g., opt-out options), and minimalist data collection principles during data processing.

Research Findings

• Specific Findings:

  • Described data processing methods and application scenarios from 106 studies, including music performances, dance interactions, and virtual reality installations.
  • Proposed an ethical framework for biometric data in artistic performances, offering practical recommendations on privacy, artistic autonomy, and fundamental data management.

• Advantages:

  • Provided practical guidance for artists and researchers to balance complex technology and ethics.
  • Promoted public understanding of ethical issues surrounding emerging technologies like biometrics.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Literature analysis revealed that most cases did not explicitly mention ethical approval, with only about 14% clearly stating they had obtained ethical clearance.
  • Relevant data were primarily used to explore creative control and artistic interaction in immersive experiences.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Due to data sources, some ethical topics may not be fully covered.
  • Suggested further exploration of frameworks targeting specific ethical values, such as privacy-first design.
  • Recommended dynamic adjustments to the framework in response to rapid updates in performance technologies.

Overall, this literature provides valuable reference material for scholars researching the ethical issues of biometric technology in artistic performances and offers practical recommendations for design practices.