Hyper Island

Prototyping

Framework

2016

Industry research project: Enhanced senses. Artificial humans? — How to design future artificial senses

I wrote my Master's thesis on the topics of body modification, artificial senses and developed guidelines for their future development.

Hyper Island

Prototyping

Framework

2016

Industry research project: Enhanced senses. Artificial humans? — How to design future artificial senses

I wrote my Master's thesis on the topics of body modification, artificial senses and developed guidelines for their future development.

Hyper Island

Prototyping

Framework

2016

Industry research project: Enhanced senses. Artificial humans? — How to design future artificial senses

I wrote my Master's thesis on the topics of body modification, artificial senses and developed guidelines for their future development.

Hyper Island

Prototyping

Framework

2016

Industry research project: Enhanced senses. Artificial humans? — How to design future artificial senses

I wrote my Master's thesis on the topics of body modification, artificial senses and developed guidelines for their future development.

Abstract

Our senses are the work of an ongoing evolutionary process and have equipped us with adequate tools for the world we live in. At the same time, the wish to modificate and alter the body refers to a long list of practices. From superficial tattoos and piercings to prosthesis, nutritional supplements that lead to greater physical performance over to drugs that can alter mental performance. Recent technological developments in biology, information technology and the ongoing miniaturisation of its components have opened the field for the next stage of enhancements. Technology has altered our lives radically and the human body seems to be the last border to be overcome. Some scientists see in this next step great promises to overcome natural human limitations, whereas others argue that by losing these limitations we lose the very core of what defines us as humans. No one can predict the future, but we are at the tipping point of a development that has started long ago. What has been, for the last decades, a field of science fiction has now become reality. Cyborgs, creatures transcending between nature and technology, already live among us. These developments bring a new role to the designer and the area of experience design, and therefore, challenge traditional approaches but also raise new ethical questions for designers and society. This paper addresses the question of how we might design meaningful artificial senses in the future, that are valuable for the user and accepted by society. A broad range of academic and professional literature, interviews with experts from different disciplines and user testings bring in different viewpoints to propose a set of recommendations when designing for body enhancing technologies. Hopefully, this research will provide a base for discussion about a development that started in the absence of public debate.

Abstract

Our senses are the work of an ongoing evolutionary process and have equipped us with adequate tools for the world we live in. At the same time, the wish to modificate and alter the body refers to a long list of practices. From superficial tattoos and piercings to prosthesis, nutritional supplements that lead to greater physical performance over to drugs that can alter mental performance. Recent technological developments in biology, information technology and the ongoing miniaturisation of its components have opened the field for the next stage of enhancements. Technology has altered our lives radically and the human body seems to be the last border to be overcome. Some scientists see in this next step great promises to overcome natural human limitations, whereas others argue that by losing these limitations we lose the very core of what defines us as humans. No one can predict the future, but we are at the tipping point of a development that has started long ago. What has been, for the last decades, a field of science fiction has now become reality. Cyborgs, creatures transcending between nature and technology, already live among us. These developments bring a new role to the designer and the area of experience design, and therefore, challenge traditional approaches but also raise new ethical questions for designers and society. This paper addresses the question of how we might design meaningful artificial senses in the future, that are valuable for the user and accepted by society. A broad range of academic and professional literature, interviews with experts from different disciplines and user testings bring in different viewpoints to propose a set of recommendations when designing for body enhancing technologies. Hopefully, this research will provide a base for discussion about a development that started in the absence of public debate.

Abstract

Our senses are the work of an ongoing evolutionary process and have equipped us with adequate tools for the world we live in. At the same time, the wish to modificate and alter the body refers to a long list of practices. From superficial tattoos and piercings to prosthesis, nutritional supplements that lead to greater physical performance over to drugs that can alter mental performance. Recent technological developments in biology, information technology and the ongoing miniaturisation of its components have opened the field for the next stage of enhancements. Technology has altered our lives radically and the human body seems to be the last border to be overcome. Some scientists see in this next step great promises to overcome natural human limitations, whereas others argue that by losing these limitations we lose the very core of what defines us as humans. No one can predict the future, but we are at the tipping point of a development that has started long ago. What has been, for the last decades, a field of science fiction has now become reality. Cyborgs, creatures transcending between nature and technology, already live among us. These developments bring a new role to the designer and the area of experience design, and therefore, challenge traditional approaches but also raise new ethical questions for designers and society. This paper addresses the question of how we might design meaningful artificial senses in the future, that are valuable for the user and accepted by society. A broad range of academic and professional literature, interviews with experts from different disciplines and user testings bring in different viewpoints to propose a set of recommendations when designing for body enhancing technologies. Hopefully, this research will provide a base for discussion about a development that started in the absence of public debate.

Abstract

Our senses are the work of an ongoing evolutionary process and have equipped us with adequate tools for the world we live in. At the same time, the wish to modificate and alter the body refers to a long list of practices. From superficial tattoos and piercings to prosthesis, nutritional supplements that lead to greater physical performance over to drugs that can alter mental performance. Recent technological developments in biology, information technology and the ongoing miniaturisation of its components have opened the field for the next stage of enhancements. Technology has altered our lives radically and the human body seems to be the last border to be overcome. Some scientists see in this next step great promises to overcome natural human limitations, whereas others argue that by losing these limitations we lose the very core of what defines us as humans. No one can predict the future, but we are at the tipping point of a development that has started long ago. What has been, for the last decades, a field of science fiction has now become reality. Cyborgs, creatures transcending between nature and technology, already live among us. These developments bring a new role to the designer and the area of experience design, and therefore, challenge traditional approaches but also raise new ethical questions for designers and society. This paper addresses the question of how we might design meaningful artificial senses in the future, that are valuable for the user and accepted by society. A broad range of academic and professional literature, interviews with experts from different disciplines and user testings bring in different viewpoints to propose a set of recommendations when designing for body enhancing technologies. Hopefully, this research will provide a base for discussion about a development that started in the absence of public debate.

01 — Setting the stage

This first part of the paper introduces the field of body enhancing technologies and artificial senses. Its relevance for experience design and sets the academic foundation of the Industry Research Project.

01 — Setting the stage

This first part of the paper introduces the field of body enhancing technologies and artificial senses. Its relevance for experience design and sets the academic foundation of the Industry Research Project.

01 — Setting the stage

This first part of the paper introduces the field of body enhancing technologies and artificial senses. Its relevance for experience design and sets the academic foundation of the Industry Research Project.

01 — Setting the stage

This first part of the paper introduces the field of body enhancing technologies and artificial senses. Its relevance for experience design and sets the academic foundation of the Industry Research Project.

02 — Setting the context

Interviews with industry experts are summarised in the developing part to further expand the research. This part closes with a conclusion of the primary and secondary research. A set of recommendations is proposed to improve future development in the field.

02 — Setting the context

Interviews with industry experts are summarised in the developing part to further expand the research. This part closes with a conclusion of the primary and secondary research. A set of recommendations is proposed to improve future development in the field.

02 — Setting the context

Interviews with industry experts are summarised in the developing part to further expand the research. This part closes with a conclusion of the primary and secondary research. A set of recommendations is proposed to improve future development in the field.

02 — Setting the context

Interviews with industry experts are summarised in the developing part to further expand the research. This part closes with a conclusion of the primary and secondary research. A set of recommendations is proposed to improve future development in the field.

03 — Gaining feedback

In this part of the research a prototypical artificial sense is created, based on the recommendations. User feedback then is used to get insights and validate the research.

03 — Gaining feedback

In this part of the research a prototypical artificial sense is created, based on the recommendations. User feedback then is used to get insights and validate the research.

03 — Gaining feedback

In this part of the research a prototypical artificial sense is created, based on the recommendations. User feedback then is used to get insights and validate the research.

03 — Gaining feedback

In this part of the research a prototypical artificial sense is created, based on the recommendations. User feedback then is used to get insights and validate the research.

04 — Draw conclusions

The last part of the paper summarises the findings from the previous stages and gives an outlook to future research that needs to be done. A critical evaluation of the process closes the paper.

04 — Draw conclusions

The last part of the paper summarises the findings from the previous stages and gives an outlook to future research that needs to be done. A critical evaluation of the process closes the paper.

04 — Draw conclusions

The last part of the paper summarises the findings from the previous stages and gives an outlook to future research that needs to be done. A critical evaluation of the process closes the paper.

04 — Draw conclusions

The last part of the paper summarises the findings from the previous stages and gives an outlook to future research that needs to be done. A critical evaluation of the process closes the paper.

Outlook

No one can predict the future of artificial senses, but with the long history of body modification in mind, there is no reason that people will stop exploring possibilities. While Raymond Kurzweil predicts that we all will have a “brain gate” in the future, other researchers are questioning these developments fundamentally. The big challenges, in the coming years, will not be technological aspects, rather than social and ethical discussions if we, as a society, want to let technology intrude or enhance our bodies. “If we want to foster a more enlightened use of the technology, we have to begin with culture, not with the technology itself.” (Miah, 2009, p.2) How we will use future enhancing technologies will rather be a discourse about cultural values and trends rather than a discussion about technological possibilities.

Outlook

No one can predict the future of artificial senses, but with the long history of body modification in mind, there is no reason that people will stop exploring possibilities. While Raymond Kurzweil predicts that we all will have a “brain gate” in the future, other researchers are questioning these developments fundamentally. The big challenges, in the coming years, will not be technological aspects, rather than social and ethical discussions if we, as a society, want to let technology intrude or enhance our bodies. “If we want to foster a more enlightened use of the technology, we have to begin with culture, not with the technology itself.” (Miah, 2009, p.2) How we will use future enhancing technologies will rather be a discourse about cultural values and trends rather than a discussion about technological possibilities.

Outlook

No one can predict the future of artificial senses, but with the long history of body modification in mind, there is no reason that people will stop exploring possibilities. While Raymond Kurzweil predicts that we all will have a “brain gate” in the future, other researchers are questioning these developments fundamentally. The big challenges, in the coming years, will not be technological aspects, rather than social and ethical discussions if we, as a society, want to let technology intrude or enhance our bodies. “If we want to foster a more enlightened use of the technology, we have to begin with culture, not with the technology itself.” (Miah, 2009, p.2) How we will use future enhancing technologies will rather be a discourse about cultural values and trends rather than a discussion about technological possibilities.

Outlook

No one can predict the future of artificial senses, but with the long history of body modification in mind, there is no reason that people will stop exploring possibilities. While Raymond Kurzweil predicts that we all will have a “brain gate” in the future, other researchers are questioning these developments fundamentally. The big challenges, in the coming years, will not be technological aspects, rather than social and ethical discussions if we, as a society, want to let technology intrude or enhance our bodies. “If we want to foster a more enlightened use of the technology, we have to begin with culture, not with the technology itself.” (Miah, 2009, p.2) How we will use future enhancing technologies will rather be a discourse about cultural values and trends rather than a discussion about technological possibilities.