MedTech + Art

The connection between medical technology and art is actually quite a significant one. It never occurred to me before I took this course but it has become more apparent that the human body and the different ways we view it are indeed artistic. The Visible Human Project, which took cross sections of the male and female human bodies, gives artists insight into the different angles and different structures that make up these bodies.

Head Cross Section Model

In addition to this, there has been many other projects that explore the potentials of the human body such as Kevin Warwick's Project Cyborg 1.0. Warwick had a micro chip implanted in his forearm that allowed monitoring of his actions when he was away from his computer. These works of art are the product of combining art and medical technology. However, it is interesting to note that these technologies were not incorporated into medicine until relatively recently, as mentioned in lecture. 

MRI Machine

The development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has given the medical field more opportunities  than it has had in the past. It has given us the ability to diagnose diseases in an attempt to treat and find cures. Art has also opened the door to plastic surgery, making it possible to repair, mold, and shape human body parts. I was surprised to learn that plastic surgery came about because of war injuries. The myriad of ways that art and medtech are bound can be seen by looking at any hospital or research facility. I believe that as long as this connection continues, the kinds of technologies that are being and will be invented can only be beneficial to mankind.

Citations

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Visible Human Project. 1995. Print. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/>.

"Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)." WebMD. WebMD, 16 May 2011. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri>.

"What Happens When a Man is Merged With a Computer." The University of Reading. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://www.kevinwarwick.org/Cyborg1.htm>.

Plastic Surgery. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/maps_and_graphs/2010/2/1/1265049142417/Patient-with-Surgical-Mar-001.jpg>.

Do You Really Need an MRI?. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://essentialsomatics.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/medical-monitoring.jpg>.

Head Cross Section Model. N.d. Photograph. RandommizationWeb. 14 Jul 2013. <http://randommization.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Paper-Tissue-Human-Anatomy.jpg>.