Today we looked at speculative design.
Speculative design imagines possibille, probable and even provoactive futures. It imagine these types of futures and explores the implications of this. Speculative design is making guesses without having any evidence, it looks at the existing technology and its enhancements. It is an approach to allow our brains to look into the future of technology and society. There are different types of futures to look when looking at speculative design.
Speculative design can be practised through different methods of thinking and actions. One way is thinking about trends in technology like AI or, concerns like climate change, we can predict what might be a reality in the future which can help develop an idea. Asking questions like ”What If?” questions, can start that thought pattern of predicting futures, almost like storytelling we can imagine a world of future scenarios, thinking on a broader scope. Another way is the design artefacts and prototypes, similar to when a historical artifact is found, we can put together the society and the period the of when and where it came from. If we do this for the future it can work the same way.
Speculative design and the future
In class, we completed a task where we had to come up with an innovative idea that would essentially increase engagement in the classroom and increase attendance for in-person learning. The first thing we brainstormed was potential things inside the classroom that could be adapted to make more enjoyable. Then went on to our ideas, this was a great task to get into speculative design thinking.
Something that keeps getting mentioned is Black Mirror, these episodes typically tend to look at futuristic and dystopian realities. I have watched every black mirror episode and definitely think that this show is suited to our topic this semester. One episode that was mentioned today was “Nosedive”, an episode I am familiar with. However, I remember watching another episode that surrounded AI and addiction to technology/social media. In simple terms, the main protagonist is Martha and her boyfrined who actively use social media and update their followers on their lives. Marthas boyfriend dies, and she uses an AI service to essentially bring him back to live through texts, calls and eventually a robot. At first Martha feels like her boyfriend is back, but eventually realises this is just an imitation. Which leads to her locking him away.