Template for a text-based new media proposal 1

Template for a text-based new media proposal

Ippolito version 1.1

Abstract

I intend to recreate a number of extra sensory perception experiments using the internet (to ensure a much larger demographic of test subjects than is possible with the normal small group of volunteers normally associated with such experiments). Among these tests will be variations of the experiments performed by the widely published professor of psychology, Daryl Bem of Cornell.

Why

...this is needed now

In the last 100 years we have seen the impossible become the everyday. Quantum Psychics made us rethink the very structure of the universe and relativity challenged our core beliefs about the nature of time itself. We have cloned animals and spliced our own DNA. We have created not only invisibility but also (as of this year) cloaked time. We have begun making amazing strides in to teleportation and created miniature black holes right here on earth. With every passing minute, the ever growing pool of our collective knowledge increases exponentially and, with each new discovery, we begin to see how little we truly know. But despite this ignorance and wonder, the science community still insists on treating certain subjects as taboo. And because of this academic arrogance, a wealth of testable results and credible information, is scorned or ignored simply because it does not fall neatly in to our woefully incomplete view of the universe. Near the top of this list of scientific heresy is the topic of ESP. I do not claim that this project will garner results in one direction or another. I am neither a believer in this phenomenon, nor am I critique. I choose instead to apply New Media to these experiments in the manner that other scientists should (but fail) to do. Applying the scientific method and strict, controlled conditions, with an open mind and no particular bias for or against the end results. I do this for one simple reason... it's about damn time someone did it.

Where

...this problem arises

Critiques of past experiments in ESP have claimed that any results showing data that suggests some form of extra sensory perception, is because the number of test subjects involved was to small. This is understandable. The search for the elusive Higgs particle requires scientists to repeat the same experiment hundreds of thousands of times to ensure that their results can not be in any way due to chance. Because all legitimate ESP experiments have been thus far performed in colleges with volunteers barely numbering in the hundreds, such repetition is next to impossible and, therefore, any evidence can be thrown out on these grounds. However, these same experiments can be easily replicated (and possibly improved) on the internet. Not only would this create an enormous demographic of participants, it would also allow us the opportunity to find possible connections between any potential extra sensory powers and the shared characteristics of those who may display such abilities. It is entirely likely that all this project will show us is that ESP truly does not exist. It is also possible, however, that our results may show the most psychic of all groups are 16 year old girls from Alabama or overweight, married men from India. One thing is certain, it is foolish and dangerous to believe that something is impossible without performing the proper tests to know for sure.