Interdisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity, and Health Humanities: Eye Tracking, Ableism, Disability, and Art Creation

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter examines a transdisciplinary research project that develops eye tracking hardware and software for the purpose of art creation. Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are defined in relation to the development of the health humanities as a field that inherently draws from multiple disciplines. Transdisciplinary research is seen to transcend disciplinary boundaries and to integrate community collaboration as a mode that is geared to addressing social challenges. Eye tracking art creation relies solely on eye movements to create art on digital screens and thus has implications for individuals with limited mobility. Disability is defined in relation to ableism, which is the discriminatory practice of enforcing a corporeal norm. We discuss how technology development that has implications for individuals with disabilities, such as ours, must resist ableist tendencies to attempt to solve disability as a problem that requires a cure. Thus, we frame our research project that has as its goal the development of tools that provide the enjoyment of art creation above all.