Introducing Aura

Crystalizing memories - new ways to remember and relive.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Since the dawn of time, humans have desired to capture and preserve the moments important to us. Perhaps this desire is fueled by our fundamental fear of death - the idea that one day we might be gone, and that all our memories will slowly disintegrate along with us.

Far before the advent of urban settlements and human civilization more broadly, we developed a primordial need to preserve our experiences. We can trace these attempts to capture memories back 40,000 years to the earliest cave paintings in Indonesia. Thousands of years later, with the invention of writing, people began to record their experiences and thoughts as stories, poems, and other written works. These new mediums broadened our creative horizons and provided us with new avenues to depict important events in our lives. Following the invention of photography and video in the 19th century, technology has continued to expand how we capture and hold the moments that matter to us.

Early humans painting in caves

Today, the way we capture and crystalize our memories has become dull and uninspired. We often rely on the same technology and platforms, phone cameras and social media sites, to document our experiences. As a result, the act of sharing our memories has become standardized and lacks individuality. The pressure to present a polished version of ourselves on social media only adds to the performative nature of the experience, leaving our memories impersonal and unexciting. It's time to break free from the mundane and embrace a more authentic and expressive way of preserving our memories.

Three years ago, at dinner with a group of my close friends, I leaned back to observe our conversation. Each person brought their unique personality to the table; and, as we shared stories, exchanged jokes, and debated ideas, I became captivated by the thought of developing a new way to capture, share, and experience this moment. One that would capture the moment for what it was, not what we wanted it to be. One that captured the emotion and energy of a moment - one that captured its aura.

Aura of the Notebook (2004)

Through fusing art, science, and technology, I founded Aura - an AI-driven visual art platform that transforms conversations into art. Our team found ways to blend the psychology of emotion with the technical nature of machine learning, the sonic spectrum of voice with the synesthetic properties of audio visualizers, and ultimately the brute rigidity of data with the ethereal beauty of abstract expressionism. Our solution reflects the essence of a moment - the emotions expressed, the exchange of laughter, and the debate of groundbreaking ideas. Technology has provided us with the tools to experience our memories in manners we hitherto never conceived. 

The process of creating an Aura

Our first user recorded a lively conversation with his twin daughters at dinner, capturing their unique personalities and bond as siblings. They discussed everything from UFOs and the possibility of extraterrestrial life to their feelings about traveling and living across the world. We transformed this moment into an Aura and revealed it to his family. This memory, which his daughters had long forgotten, was preserved forever as a work of art. The Aura now hangs on a digital screen in the family’s private gallery. As time passes and the children grow older, this Aura will forever crystalize this special moment, providing a lasting connection between the father and his daughters. Someday, we hope they will show this Aura to their grandchildren and those that come after. 

A mother and a son viewing their memories through a crystal ball

We’ve built Aura to give people a way to crystalize those special moments -  the first date with your soulmate, the birth of your first child, a meal shared with friends and family. We look at the power of bits as a means to enhance our world of atoms - to use technology to enhance our human experience.

If you’re interested in crystalizing a memory and creating an aura, you can sign up for the waitlist at auradigital.us.