Man-machine affairs
2011 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis [Artistic work]
Abstract [sv]
In the pre-study project Man-Machine Affairs, Nina Bačun and Anders Mellbratt question the world of existing and emerging technologies and their impact (mainly of the computer) on people's lives.
While aiming to locate themselves in a technologically-driven society and using their personal technophobia and technophilia as a starting point, Bačun and Mellbratt are investigating the man-machine relationships in order to gain insight into how to design for new roles and metaphors within this context. This is done by collecting stories through interviews, discussions and a survey, and applying a process of idea generation, synthesis and practice-based case studies.
After the first stage of research, subjects for two case studies were selected, further investigated through designing a bespoke experience over the course of a week, towards the goal of enabling co-creation of fictional scenarios with the help of the objects and scripts.
In the first case studey, the subject unknowingly faces the embodimet of the concept of singularity. In the second case study, Bačun and Mellbratt play the role of matchmakers in an engagement proposal etween the subject and her personal computer. The authors' prediction is that if these experiences are well designed and delivered in the proper manner, they might prompt the subjects to renegotiate their relationship towards technology.
To further expand the platform for discussion around the topics explored in their work, Bačun and Mellbratt employ tactics from theatre in designing a pseudo-consultancy office setting for ten days, where they attempt to create a suspension of disbelief in order to create a dialogue otherwise unapproachable. Putting themselves into the characters of consultants, performing as consulting staff or extras, and leaving the role of the protagonist to the visitor, they weave performance and visual identity together with scenography to attract visitors into this dialogue.
An early conclusion of the pre-study research based on two cases is that there is a potential for this type of approach and that this potential needs to be further explored.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2011. , p. 43
Keywords [en]
man-machine relationships, surrogate experience, experience design, design fiction
National Category
Design
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:konstfack:diva-4635OAI: oai:DiVA.org:konstfack-4635DiVA, id: diva2:718303
Educational program
Experience Design (Master)
Uppsok
Fine Art
2014-05-202014-05-202014-05-20Bibliographically approved