Look Who it Was Random video

Human Machines & Mechanical Humans | Christian Howard | TEDxCharlottesville

2,086 views · Published 14 February 2018 · 12:58 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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As robotics and autonomous systems flourish, human-robot relationships are becoming increasingly important. Researcher Christian Howard explores the curious ways in which we engage with our talking, walking and sometimes flying tech counterparts. Christian Howard is a current PhD Candidate in English literature at the University of Virginia, where she is specializing in contemporary global fiction and digital humanities.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Christian received her BA in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Dallas in 2012. In 2014, she received her MA in English from the University of Tulsa, where she specialized in modern literature and began working on digital humanities. As a PhD candidate at UVA, Christian has worked as a Makerspace Technologist in the Scholars' Lab and as a graduate student assistant for Alison Booth's digital project, The Collective Biographies of Women. Christian is currently a Praxis Scholar, and she is one of the Principle Investigators for the podcast series, Circulating Spaces: Literary and Language Worlds in a Global Age.

In her spare time, Christian enjoys fencing, playing the piano, and frequenting art museums. She lives in Charlottesville. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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