Turning off Autopilot...

I began to explore the notion of 'autopilot' further, and how in todays society the heavy reliance and use of media technologies has led us to be defined and driven by such technologies and hindered our reliance on human contact, companionship and trust. One of the best examples of autopilot for me is driving, especially my drive home from university to my family home in Kent. The first few times I did the journey, I was assisted by the use and direction of my TomTom that via visual and audio instruction would lead me from my start to end location. Although SatNavs are great pieces of equipment, that have revolutionised the efficiency of driving, they do however, cause the driver (me in this example) to rely on technologies all of the time rather than using the details provided in non technological form. For example, when I drive to and from home, a journey that I do at least 5 times a month, I could not tell you which junctions I come off at on the m23 and m25. Due to my SatNav I recognise the environment and nature that surround the junction, which causes my brain to register that it is time to turn off. I don't think about it, I don't take much notice of junction signs etc as from the routine that my SatNav has given me they are almost useless to me. Combining this with the fact that I have a CD on, which allows me to become lost in my music and allow the journey to go much quicker, I realised that I am in complete autopilot. I subconsciously make the journey home, my brain focused on the music and (cars around me to avoid crashes) road signs are insignificant, junctions unimportant.

I feel this notion of autopilot is hugely rife amongst society. People put their headphones in, or glue their attention to their phone and move through spaces without recognising or taking in anything that goes on around them. The repetitive series of roads that make up a day to day journey become embedded into ones brain and the escapism into a form of media technology allows the individual to wander through public space whilst remaining in their privatised realm. Through my project, I hope to provide the audience with my unique perspective that doesn't fall into autopilot and instead meticulously picks out details whilst moving through urban spaces and highlight to them the weird, wonderful and interesting things you can consume if you open your eyes to the world around you.