This project, which I’ve titled “Little Things” is a small artistic exploration—though perhaps not what one typically considers “art.” It’s a creative pursuit that exists outside traditional artistic boundaries. Its value is ultimately yours to determine.
Little Things” is an exploration of mental well-being, investigating a potential method for improving internal mental balance. Here you find a limited version for demonstration purposes. The computer gathers specific, sensitive but non-identifying user data, with safeguards against misuse. This data is then used to generate an AI text, image or sound presented to the user, intended to have a beneficial effect on their mental state.
The mind, as I define it, encompasses the complex of faculties involved in perceiving, remembering, considering, evaluating, and deciding. Jean Piaget, the Swiss psychologist, recognized cognitive adaptation as consisting of two fundamental processes: assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation involves interpreting reality through the lens of one’s existing internal model of the world, while accommodation involves adjusting this model to accommodate new experiences. Faulty assimilation, influenced by past experiences, can lead to subsequent faulty accommodation. In essence, we perceive the world through the filter of our established perceptions.
If this erroneous “habituation” arises from assimilation, contact with the external world should ideally introduce novelty. “Little Things” aims to facilitate this by presenting users with AI-generated images. Data collection is voluntary, and the program utilizes specific methods to identify cognitive dissonances within the user’s existing mental framework. The generated image is then tailored to address these dissonances, based on a pre-existing model. The process primarily employs language-based techniques and, of course, some basic coding.
I managed to code a first functional version. Write the text that you think best describes your present person, text that should be between 400 and 500 words. Obviously you can use a helper that allows you to dictate, if you get tired of being a small writer. After you’re done, press the “Analyze” button and wait for the automatic processing of the text. When the text processing is ready, the “Help me!” button is activated. Press this last button and you will receive a piece of text along with instructions for using it. The program is free and I didn’t want you to spend money to generate the image or the song directly. Be your own artist! But don’t forget that this art is personalized and only you can help it best.
Get free help HERE:
You can help me develop the program with a small donation. Thank you!
I’m trying something like “art therapy” here, but I want much more than just improving the patient’s general condition. Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative processes to help individuals explore emotions, develop self-awareness, manage stress, and improve mental well-being. It is grounded in the belief that the creative process involved in making art can be healing and can facilitate emotional, psychological, and physical recovery. Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of psychological conditions, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief, among others.
Key Benefits and Therapeutic Effects:
- Emotional Expression and Self-Exploration: Art provides a non-verbal outlet for expression, especially for individuals who may find it difficult to articulate their feelings. Creating art can facilitate self-reflection, emotional release, and a deeper understanding of internal experiences.
- Source: Malchiodi, C. A. (2007). “The Art Therapy Sourcebook”. McGraw-Hill. This book emphasizes how art therapy allows clients to express emotions that might otherwise be difficult to verbalize.
- Stress Reduction: The process of creating art can have calming effects, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The focus required in art making can serve as a form of mindfulness, allowing individuals to become more present in the moment and less consumed by anxious thoughts.
- Source: Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). “Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making”. Art Therapy, 33(2), 74-80. This study found that engaging in art-making led to a significant reduction in cortisol levels, which is associated with stress reduction.
- Improved Mental Health: Art therapy is widely used to support mental health treatment by helping clients cope with psychological distress, build resilience, and improve emotional regulation. It can be particularly useful for individuals with trauma or PTSD.
- Source: van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma”. Viking. This book explores the role of creative therapies, including art therapy, in the healing process for individuals with trauma.
- Enhancing Self-Esteem and Personal Growth: Through creating art, individuals may gain a sense of achievement, boosting their self-esteem. It can also encourage personal growth by facilitating new ways of thinking and problem-solving.
- Source: Rubin, J. A. (2016). “Approaches to Art Therapy: Theory and Technique”. Brunner-Routledge. Rubin discusses how art therapy can help clients recognize their personal strengths and enhance their self-concept.
- Support for Various Populations: Art therapy has been successfully used in various settings, including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practices. It is effective across age groups and is particularly valuable in working with children, individuals with disabilities, and elderly populations.
- Source: Kapitan, L. (2014). “Introduction to Art Therapy Research”. Routledge. This research highlights the versatility of art therapy in different populations and settings.
Art therapy is now a powerful tool for fostering mental and emotional health. It provides an accessible way for individuals to express themselves, process complex emotions, and develop new coping strategies. The scientific literature continues to support its efficacy across a wide range of therapeutic settings.
For details on the concept:
Little Things: How Can a Computer Be Your Best Friend?
The useful element should only be visible to the people for whom the image was created, as it is personalized. These images should be used like a masterpiece in an art museum. Even if the artistic quality can be improved, the art is useful. Examples of Little things images:
