28th of March, 2025
On March 28, 2025, the EPISTEAM project hosted the International Online Seminar on Sensing the Body via its digital platform. This interdisciplinary event explored how emerging technologies are reshaping the ways we sense, interpret, and interface with the human body—bringing together experts in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and engineering.
The seminar examined the epistemological, technological, and ethical dimensions of body sensing, focusing on:
- Advances in signal processing and physiological monitoring, enabling continuous tracking of emotional and cognitive states.
- The role of neuroprosthetic technologies in creating bidirectional channels between biology and machines.
- Ethical considerations in human–machine interaction, including privacy, autonomy, and dignity.
Renowned speakers, including Prof. José Manuel Ferrández, Dr. Paul Hayes, and Prof. Eduardo Fernández, shared insights on emotional computing, affective robotics, and neural ethics. A major highlight was the progress in cortical visual neuroprosthesis research, which enables blind individuals to perceive shapes and movement through direct cortical stimulation—a groundbreaking step in neuroengineering.
The seminar emphasized that sensing is not merely a technical process but also a cultural and ethical one. As technology penetrates deeper into cognitive and emotional spheres, ethical frameworks must evolve alongside innovation. Discussions underscored the importance of human-centered design and virtue ethics to ensure that technological progress enhances autonomy, empathy, and meaning.