​This month, Cybersentics Book Club discusses the idea that emotions have fixed, measurable shapes that transcend culture and can be induced through touch alone. Though contested, Clyne's theory of sentic shapes casts a long shadow, most notably informing Rosalind Picard's work on affective computing.

​This Month's Reading: Clynes, M. (1976). Sentics — The Touch of Emotions. Anchor.

​What if emotions have a universal physical language — one that can be measured, transmitted, and felt across bodies and cultures?

​In 1976, musician and neuroscientist Manfred Clynes proposed exactly that, arguing that each emotion is expressed through a precise, biologically programmed dynamic form he called a "sentic shape."

​About the Cybersentics Book Club:

​Gray Area is pleased to host a new reading group, the Cybersentics Book Club that will explore the human sensorium through the lens of art and technology.

​In the first cycle, Cybersentic's reading list will center key themes related to the bidirectional flow of information between bodies and the environment. The outward perspective examines biofeedback, while the inward perspective focuses on cyborg art.

​This book club is a fit for artists, makers, researchers, scholars, engineers, and anyone curious about the integration of technology and art. Join us as we investigate how to enhance our sensory experiences, from biofeedback and sonification to embedding sensors that challenge our perceptions.

​Our group's purpose is to cultivate a welcoming community that fosters knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Whether you're seeking to connect with potential collaborators, look for answers to pressing questions, gain critical insights, or engage in peer learning, this is the place for you!

​Cybersentics is organized and led by Gray Area Research Fellow Anastasia Chernysheva as part of the Biofeedback Art|Research Network (BARN).

​Accessibility:

​All ages welcome. A high school reading level or above is recommended.

​Hosted upstairs in the Gray Area Incubator, not wheelchair or mobility accessible

​View our FAQ page for more info, or contact us at [email protected] with any accommodation requests.