It seems like the discussions of “smart” technologies are returning to the centre of academic discussions. The notion of smart sticks easily, and the discussion both covers smart cities, homes, cars, policing, phones, and even states.
In the Lab community, we are reorienting ourselves towards the discussions and are reflecting on the implications of the wide-ranging technologies; how smart are they really - to whom - and how are they affecting us and the societies we live in?
Jessamy Perriam is along with Stina Hasse Jørgensen currently working on a series of workshops exploring the smart home. In the first workshop, they used Dumit’s implosion method (2014) to unfold the smart speakers of Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and will explore the reflections again through Light, Burgess, and Duguay’s walkthrough method (2016) in a following workshop.
Sometimes the promise of digitalisation leads us to assume consistency and reliability, however, as most researchers working with digital methods have come to realise, this promise does not uphold. Mace Ojala, Line Henriksen & Katrine Meldgaard Kjær are facilitating a seminar on November 15th, 12.00-14.00, on absent data and the frustration, confusion, and laughter this may bring.
Movements embracing digital retreat are blossoming, as well as research on numbing behaviour following clever app designers who wants us to keep spending our time and attention on their platforms. Amongst the Lab community, we also experience the compulsive urge to check our mails and other inboxes and the crave of likes. Some of us have found ourselves not sticking to our digital behaviour commitments or deleting the data tracks we know are there. Therefore, we are offering a workshop on Digital Selfcare on October 29, 16.00-17.00, where we hope to create a collective space for reflection and getting this done. Basically, treat our digital self!
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All the best for your Octobers and hope to see you in the Lab,
ETHOS Lab
www.ethos.itu.dk
Co-heads of Lab: Marisa Cohn & Rachel Douglas-Jones
Lab Manager: Merethe Riggelsen Gjørding