This time, I interviewed Rhizomatiks' Daito Manabe at the Apple Store Omotesando in Omotesando, Tokyo. He explained about the Apple Watch during the interview.

For Manabe, who utilizes new technology to explore new forms of expression, how does the Apple Watch inspire his creativity? Manabe's words not only evoked ideas about his creations, but also about the future of lifestyles.

--What do digital gadgets and technology mean to you, Manabe?

Above all, I love new things, so I'll try anything first. Of course, I read paper books, and I still listen to vinyl records. My creations are rarely confined to computers or video; rather, I often use my body and physical objects. However, I'm the type of person who finds myself constantly on my phone, so I'm conscious of balance and how I use them.

--You're currently wearing an Apple Watch. Do you think this could lead to your work?

I've developed wearable devices like the Apple Watch myself, and I think the most important thing is not only how useful they are in everyday life, but also whether they're fun. Frankly, it's fun, and I think it could lead to new forms of expression.

--For example, what possibilities do you imagine?

If you wear an Apple Watch, it can measure your heart rate and, in the future, acceleration. And because it's connected to the internet, these data can be shared. While the most common use for this technology is in medicine or sports, it would be interesting to see it used in entertainment.

Audience feedback is extremely important for onstage performances, but until now, DJs could only get visual information like handclaps. However, if the audience installed and launched a specific app at the venue, they could track their heart rate and motion, opening up new possibilities for DJs. For example, instead of "DJ versus audience," it might become possible to perform for each individual in the audience. This would enable targeted actions, such as sending a certain message to someone with a high heart rate and a different message to someone who will likely remain seated. I think this will change the relationship between artist and audience, and the relationship between the dance floor and the stage.

--Does this also relate to your interest in artificial intelligence, as you mentioned previously?

Yes. For example, these days, you can listen to a huge number of songs online with just a few clicks, but that makes it difficult to find your favorite songs. In other words, personalization is necessary, and by applying the heart rate measurement and database provided by the Apple Watch, we should be able to create new connections between music and lifestyle. For example, you could add metadata to music, such as "music listened to by people in Shibuya with heart rates over 140 at 2 a.m." If you were in a similar situation in Shibuya, you might want to listen to that music. I think proposing such a system is one way to use current technology and artificial intelligence.

--Artificial intelligence is now beginning to be used in areas such as fashion, and it has the potential to significantly change our lifestyles in the future.

I'm very interested to see how far it can take high-context topics like music and fashion. While it may be able to make simple recommendations, asking questions like, "What should I wear on a date tomorrow?" requires a complex array of information, such as the other person's fashion, where they're going out, and, if traveling, the contents of their suitcase. Devices for gathering this information are no longer just found in computers, but are all around us. As with technology in general, artificial intelligence is easily used for bad purposes. I hope to pursue alternative possibilities and create new forms of expression.

1/2--Returning to Rhizomatiks' Manabe Daito's discussion of the "fusion of technology and expression."