#ArchiveMyLife
This project was developed step-by-step for the Cinema & the Digital Humanities graduate seminar, Fall 2024. #ArchiveMyLife was inspired by recurring themes in the course (some cited below), including digital archiving, technologies of memory/ memory of technology, AI ethics, and digital identity. Summary: #ArchiveMyLife is my concept for a media management and video editing tool that uses ai to help consolidate, organize, and share your digital social life. It learns the names and faces of your friends, it learns your hobbies and interests, your likes and dislikes. The software can search your library for content, and edit ready-made videos, blogs posts, and slideshows that can be posted to your favorite platforms and apps. It makes customized, well-produced content specifically for you, using your own media. Plus, following in Bush’s revolutionary footsteps, the indexing system will operate associatively, in the way that our brain functions. “As we may think…” <Click for video>
In 1945, Vannevar Bush dreamed up the concept for the “Memex.” The Memex was a futuristic mechanical device that could theoretically store, organize, and retrieve a person’s entire collection of books, business letters, and microfilm – in one, single piece of furniture small enough to fit in your house!
Unfortunately, the Memex was never built. However, there is some good news…
Since 1945, we’ve had a digital revolution and we’re entering an age of artificial intelligence. We can now skip directly to Memex 2.0.
#ArchiveMyLife is my concept for a media management and video editing tool that uses ai to help consolidate, organize, and share your digital social life. It learns the names and faces of your friends, it learns your hobbies and interests, your likes and dislikes. The software can search your library for content, and edit ready-made videos, blogs posts, and slideshows that can be posted to your favorite platforms and apps. It makes customized, well-produced content specifically for you, using your own media.
Plus, following in Bush’s revolutionary footsteps, the #ArchiveMyLife indexing system will operate associatively, in the way that our brain functions.
Thanks to the ever changing platforms, apps, and file degradation over time…
…many media memories cannot be revived or shared.
Videos of me proposing to my girlfriend are gone forever…
…as is the entire wedding website.
Humanity can now digitally preserve, organize and share everything from old microfilm and scanned government records to user generated iPhone news clips.
Media archiving tools (could and) should be accessible for everyone to use for memories that are important to them personally.
We can do this, and some tech companies like Apple and Meta are starting to introduce beta versions of AI tools to help…
…but these attempts are half-hearted and generic. They’re not personalized or even customizable.
As demonstrated by Lev Manovich’s SelfieCity project that analyzed thousands of instagram photos – when every user is given the same generic app with the same photo filters and default settings…
…you end up with generic content , with people striking the same exact body poses and facial expressions over and over, thereby suppressing unique, individual personality traits and indirectly encouraging cultural homogeneity.
Meantime, in the world of video making, Adobe Premie is releasing “smart video tools,” like tagging, object removal, and automatic voice enhancement EQ…
But again- this is rudimentary, and very broad brush.
More promising- is a tech startup in Brooklyn called Ozu. Ozu is a specialized shop building comprehensive ai solutions for professional video editors.
The software ingests raw footage and automatically recognizes and categorizes shots by framing style, location changes, and actor’s name.
Ozu’s tools are specifically made for high end Hollywood movies and TV shows, but the general principals behind the capabilities and functionality can be adapted for regular consumers to use on TikTok, YouTube, and social media posts.
What happens when we put all this all together? Memex + digital archiving + ai video editing, etc… ?
#ArchiveMyLife
A personal media management and smart video editing system that is unprecedented, powerful, and user friendly.
Our memories are the most valuable commodities we possess. Memories define who we are, and what we value in life.
Today, the ubiquity of digital media, sharing, and social networking provides everyone an opportunity to craft their own narrative, tell their own story, preserve personal memories, and to Archive their lives now and for future generations.
Visit the original post and Adam’s website here. Although many projects, articles, and media from the Cinema & the Digital Humanities course inspired Adam’s work, one powerful reference from our screenings in his video is the incredibly creative and poignant iMovie filmTarnation (Jonathan Caouette, 2003). For more projects from the Cinema & the Digital Humanities graduate seminar, visit the Interactive Media Archive.
Expressive AI 