TnC2017FinalFix_v2.pdf (318.49 kB)
Design for existential crisis in the anthropocene age
conference contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 06:16 authored by Ann LightAnn Light, Alison Powell, Irina ShklovskiWhat should be our orientation to the socio-technical as climate predictions worsen; ecological crises and wars escalate mass migration and refugee numbers; right-wing populism sweeps through politics; automation threatens workers' jobs and austerity policies destabilize society? What is to be done when it is not "business as usual" and even broken concepts of progress seem no longer to be progressing? We ask how to design for the common good, focusing on human needs for meaning, fulfillment, dignity and decency, qualities which technology struggles to support but can easily undermine. We juxtapose the design of computing that offers hope with that which offers only distraction, propose four modes to design for (being attentive, critical, different and in it together) and conclude with a plea to avoid tools that encourage a blinkered existence at a time of great uncertainty and change.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies (C&T '17); Troyes, France; 26-30 June 2017Publisher
Association for Computing MachineryExternal DOI
Page range
270-279Event type
conferenceISBN
978145034854Department affiliated with
- Engineering and Design Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-05-12First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-07-11First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-05-12Usage metrics
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