[W Forum] Meeting Technology: The Value of Communication and Empathy

"The tears won't stop." "I cried uncontrollably." "My heart hurt so much...". Many heartfelt reviews filled with deep emotion were surprising. It was unexpected that such a warm response would come from an unfamiliar program?a VR (Virtual Reality) documentary.

According to Good Data Corporation, a TV buzz research agency, "MBC Special - Special VR Documentary I Met You" ranked first in search rankings among non-drama programs in the first week of February. Especially on the 6th, the day the program aired, it recorded a high search share of 46.5%. Even after the broadcast ended, the number of views of the broadcast clips exceeded 10 million, and nearly 20,000 comments were posted, showing high buzz.

What caused such a great impact? "I Met You" showed a mother who, after her 7-year-old daughter?initially thought to have a cold?was diagnosed with a rare incurable disease and passed away within a month, longed for her daughter for three years and reunited with her daughter recreated in virtual reality. The production process took over seven months of data collection, utilizing various technologies such as virtual reality, motion capture, artificial intelligence voice recognition, deep learning, and 3D scanning. The wish to meet the precious daughter who suddenly left once more and say the things left unsaid was realized through technology, though not perfectly. They ate seaweed soup to celebrate the 7th birthday, lit candles on the birthday cake, and comforted each other by saying they missed each other and hoped she would no longer be in pain.

It is an era of super (超) technology. The development of various technologies, which is overwhelming to understand, is making unimaginable things possible. We have not only rosy prospects that the advancement of technology will create a convenient world but also fears that a dystopia where humans are dominated might come due to new problems. We experience the "paradox of technology," which has both bright and dark sides like two sides of a coin. For example, new technology opens many possibilities but also imposes the burden of effort and learning to use it, and the fear of being left behind if one cannot adapt.

The "I Met You" project showed the possibilities and positive functions of technology but also raised concerns. As virtual reality technology becomes more advanced, the boundary between reality and virtual reality may blur, and excessive immersion in virtual reality could be used as a means of escaping reality. While meeting a loved one who has passed away virtually brings happiness, one may experience greater loss after returning to reality. However, this is also a process we can overcome.

Peter Galison, a professor of the history of science at Harvard University, said, "Newly emerging technologies are very productive and interesting from a human perspective but are also dangerous creations." He explained that solving problems arising from technological development is closely related to fields such as philosophy, literature, and law rather than technology itself. We pay much attention to the functions of technology itself, but ultimately, both the benefits and side effects of technology depend on how we understand and use it.

In the era when the internet became widespread, scholars worried that the internet would cause individuals to neglect social relationships and become isolated. However, research results showed that, like "together yet apart," people can frequently communicate with precious ones even when physically apart and form relationships and communicate with people who share common interests and tastes without physical constraints.

Now, meaningful relationships can be formed not only with people but also with robots implemented by artificial intelligence (AI). For example, recent research shows that we anthropomorphize AI speakers and form intimate relationships through conversations, similar to friendships, and they can actually alleviate loneliness among elderly people living alone. We live in an era where we do not simply use technology but coexist with it. An important value of technology is also communication and empathy.

Choi Se-jung, Professor, Department of Media and Graduate School, Korea University