Design Futuring
Personal Research E-Portfolio
Literature Review/Horizon Scanning: Outline a research topic from one of the lectures that interests you and explain why.
Social media, data and property rights by Antony Funnell.
Futuring focuses on the various possibilities of a person or community of situations, sets targets, and works towards those objectives. It's not really about the right or wrong side of achieving goals. It's about getting there and how we can improve to make the goal more attainable. Thinking about the future way also motivates us to plan and develop ourselves further in several different ways, be it on a design or personal level. The future has many unconsidered possibilities that need to be recognised and discussed, so it is essential to learn about the future so that we, as designers, will understand our obligations.
In the event that we don't take part in futuring, we are carrying on with an actual existence in a general public that has been intended for us by another person. Futuring promotes innovative debates around our unique choices and ability to transform our lives through our regular, tangible effects on our communities and the world ("Futuring Glossary — UTS", 2020)
I found the Podcast by Antony Funnell really nteresting as he says that we have to look at things from several perspectives to foresee one's potential. If you use the internet, you risk losing details about yourself, and the only way to avoid this is to "drop off" and "disappear." He also talks about how organisations target people on the web and the data we provide online and profit from us. I do not agree with this as I feel that specific data should not be accessible to large companies, mainly since most people do not realise how much of their data is shared online. Funnell also generated a survey that focused primarily on negativity rather than positivity, which I really liked as it reveals how instead of thinking about the positives first, they think about the negatives. Another thing that I found quite interesting was the social experiment that Funnell created. I like the idea that companies need to pay a fee to access certain information and how that will allow for us to be in control of what and how data is accessible by large companies and the internet.
References:
- Funnell, A. (2014, March). Social media, data and property rights [Podcast]. ABC. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/social-media-data-and-property-rights/5312518
- Futuring Glossary — UTS. Utsdesignindex.com. (2020). Retrieved 16 July 2020, from http://www.utsdesignindex.com/researchmethod/futuring-glossary/.
Human Technology Relationships: Analyse at least one example of new technology that influences how we live (for example, how we work, play, eat, love or sleep)
Social Media - TikTok
TikTok is a social media platform that allows you to create, share, and discover short music videos and clips. It was formerly known as Musical.ly back in 2014 but was later sold, and its name was changed from Musical.ly to Tiktok in 2016. This social media platform has been around for more than four years and has been at its peak since 2019. Primarily during this current pandemic, TikTok had grown in terms of its members and daily usage. At this present time, TikTok has become a necessity in many people's lives as many people have a "fear of missing out" ("How TikTok Is Rewriting the World," 2019), which is said to be a common aspect in regards to how TikTok makes people feel. "Virtuality with sound develops more interest in the man. After watching one video, human nature wants more to see" (Impact of Using TikTok in Our Daily Lives, 2019); the content is so engaging that makes the user want to create content just like it. There are many people on the app that have become famous and the focusing attention on this app. From personal experience, I can say that it is effortless to get lost in the endless videos on TikTok because of the exciting variety of content that is being shared. The positive effect is that many people are converting TikTok into a source of income. People take a job. They effectively create and work together as a collective to produce fun films. They work as a team like somebody is a director somebody is a designer of the style, and others are actors and camera persons (Impact of Using TikTok in Our Daily Lives, 2019). According to (Smart Social, 2020) Average, user spent 52 minutes per day on this app; potential negative effect of getting addicted many people get addicted and continuously watch videos for hours and hours, and this is not good for their health, by continuously staring at a screen for hours on end you are causing damage to your eyes and your mental health. Another negative effect of TikTok is bullying; many dance challenges have been posted onto TikTok, many kids want to recreate them for their fun, for their happiness, but certain kids at school may not like it and may decide to bully them for their choices, this is a downside to social media (Smart Social, 2020). Overall at this current time, TikTok is at the centre of many people's attention, especially since the pandemic has come about, many more kids, adults, teenagers, etc. have been active on this platform as they have been at home bored and in a way compelled to create content or binge-watch the content.
References:
- How TikTok Is Rewriting the World. (2019, March 10). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/style/what-is-tik-tok.html
-Impact of using TikTok in our daily lives - Daily Times. (2019, November 18). Daily Times; Daily Times. https://dailytimes.com.pk/502645/impact-of-using-tiktok-in-our-daily-lives/
- Smart Social. (2020, January 21). The Negative Impact of TikTok on Teens - Smart Social. Smart Social. https://smartsocial.com/negative-impact-tiktok/
A review of a future scenario (this could be a film, a piece of fiction, an exhibition not shared in class):
Divergent
Divergent is a 2014 American dystopian science fiction film. The plot takes place in a post-apocalyptic and bleak world; humans are separated into distinct groups based on individual values. Beatrice Prior is warned that she's divergent and will never blend into any one of the sects. In the almost ideal world, she quickly discovered that a mysterious scheme is unfolding. Society is split into five divisions in a dystopian city of dystopia:
*Abnegation (the selfless)
*Amity (the peaceful)
*Candor (the honest)
*Dauntless (the brave)
*Erudite (the intellectual)
The remaining population is the factionless, who have little rank or luxury throughout this community.
It is a slight possibility that this could become the future; my group for assessment two explored a dystopian future that depicted factions between people. I feel as though it is a possibility that a future like this could occur. Due to the current global crisis and the current process, it is plausible that a future like this could exist, although I do not feel that we as humans would be implanted with chipped technology and would have to kill each other to survive. The probability of this occurring is relatively high as currently, we are in a situation where there is a range of different protests going on around the world, a major one being the Black Lives Matter movement but also the other movements that aren't addressed as much such as Freeing Uyghur Muslims or the Free Palestine Movement.
Steep Analysis:
Social
In divergent, the social hierarchy is not based on the amount of money each faction holds. Still, each faction houses specific skills that contribute to society in a way that brings its resources to better use. Dauntless makes up the society's military and guardians, while Erudite creates most librarians, physicians, scholars, and teachers in the region. Amity is farming the land, Candor is running the courts, and Abnegation is doing philanthropic work and running administration.
Technological
In terms of technology, this world is quite advanced as Dauntless acquires technology that allows you to be put into scenarios to adapt and overcome your fears (right image below). As well as devices that can detect your faction and whether you still have the implanted chip.
Environmental
Amity maintains a great sense of greenery in terms of the environment as they have wide green spaces and trees. Abnegation, Erudite, and Candor don't have as much greenery surrounding their space and location. The Dauntless faction does not include any vegetation as they are mainly situated underground, but when they travel outside, their surrounding areas don't house any greenery form.
Economical
There isn't much information within the film economically. Still, it seems as though things run a lot more smoothly in Abnegation, Erudite, and Candor factions as they appear to be the most organised and mature.
Political
Every party has a vital role to play when it comes to being part of the government, but Abnegation Mainly takes up the leader's positions since they're compassionate. So they can make sure that the people are accounted for without an inherent need for power. The Erudite wants the ability to spread the expertise to the other factions and to \ maintain the influence of the whole system.
References:
- Daugherty, E., Taylor, V., & Roth, V. (2014, March 20). Divergent. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/
- Ford, R. (2014, March 20). “Divergent”: An Introduction to the Dystopian World. Hollywoodreporter.Com. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/divergent-an-introduction-dystopian-world-687171
Primary Research. This post will analyse an interview you do
This interviewee was born in 1967 in Fiji and migrated here to Australia when she was about 18 years old. I felt as though she would have interesting points in talking about the future. I used an informal/formal tone when interviewing to ensure that the interviewee didn't feel uncomfortable.
Q - What do you think the future will look like?
She responded that in the future, she thinks there will be an advancement in technology, that so many things will become technology-based, that everyone will start to rely on them.
She responded that in the future, she thinks there will be an advancement in technology, that so many things will become technology-based, that everyone will start to rely on them.
Q - What problems do you think we will face in the future?
The interviewee responded that she feels that the future will be so technology-based that people will disregard the environment. As humans, we will become so consumed in technology and all the things of the future that we neglect what needs to be taken care of, the environment.
The interviewee responded that she feels that the future will be so technology-based that people will disregard the environment. As humans, we will become so consumed in technology and all the things of the future that we neglect what needs to be taken care of, the environment.
Q - What do you think about Artificial Intelligence?
My interviewee's reaction to this question was quite interesting. She didn't have a pleased look on her face when answering this question. She feels as though Artificial Intelligence robots may run the world we live in. She feels as though soon enough, robots will be able to do everything us human can do. And this will leave people in the society with no job, no form of disciple, no necessary exercise and initially allow people to become 'lazy' as she liked to put it.
My interviewee's reaction to this question was quite interesting. She didn't have a pleased look on her face when answering this question. She feels as though Artificial Intelligence robots may run the world we live in. She feels as though soon enough, robots will be able to do everything us human can do. And this will leave people in the society with no job, no form of disciple, no necessary exercise and initially allow people to become 'lazy' as she liked to put it.
Q - What are your thoughts regarding the current pandemic?
In regards to this pandemic, my interviewee was quite passionate when she was expressing her thoughts. She stated that she is not pleased with the way people are in regards to this pandemic. Many people are not following the current order being set in place. Still, the government causes everyone trouble, and people should be wise and take into consideration the people around them and take proper precautions when going out. It is the only way to ensure that we are doing our best to help fight this pandemic and stop the spread.
In regards to this pandemic, my interviewee was quite passionate when she was expressing her thoughts. She stated that she is not pleased with the way people are in regards to this pandemic. Many people are not following the current order being set in place. Still, the government causes everyone trouble, and people should be wise and take into consideration the people around them and take proper precautions when going out. It is the only way to ensure that we are doing our best to help fight this pandemic and stop the spread.
Q - Do you think 2021 will be any different?
My interviewee thinks that in regards to the pandemic in 2021, we might be getting a vaccine, that is what she is hopeful for, but at this point, no one is 100% certain. The year 2021 will defiantly be filled with uncertainty. We don't know if we will have a significant rise in cases or if we will have none. We don't know whether we'll be out of quarantine and get back to work entirely or university; it's unpredictable.
My interviewee thinks that in regards to the pandemic in 2021, we might be getting a vaccine, that is what she is hopeful for, but at this point, no one is 100% certain. The year 2021 will defiantly be filled with uncertainty. We don't know if we will have a significant rise in cases or if we will have none. We don't know whether we'll be out of quarantine and get back to work entirely or university; it's unpredictable.