Technology futures: Towards understanding how to design awe-inspiring futures

• Published in: International journal of human-computer studies 2023-02, Vol.170, p.102961, Article 102961
• Main Authors: Mueller, Florian, Petersen, Marianne Graves, Li, Zhuying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Design research; Future technologies; Human-centered computing; Interaction design
• ISSN: 1071-5819; 1095-9300
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102961

•“Technology Futures” is a novel approach that utilizes novel technology to envision future use of technology by letting laypeople experience it themselves first-hand to facilitate informed discussions about the future.•Presents the three key steps of the approach, exemplified through three case studies•Presents a set of design strategies for others to draw from when aiming to engage with the “Technology Futures” approach. Future technology can inspire “awe”, the deep feeling of astonishment that can include fear, resulting in often “awe-some” but sometimes also “aw(e)-ful” experiences. We are interested in exploring the potential of future technology beyond any immediate obvious application domain and hence draw from prior work and our own design research (through three case studies) to propose the “technology futures” approach that uses awe as a driver for exploring future technology's potential. Guided by awe's need for sense-making, the approach suggests that experiencing future technology in alternative, playful ways and through a first-hand approach can allow for shared reflections, leading to a more informed view of future technology's potential. Our “technology futures” approach has three stages (envisioning, concretizing, and futuring) towards awe-inspiring futures. We illustrate these stages using three case studies: jogging with a quadcopter, ingestible play, and shape-changing furniture. Furthermore, we use these case studies to articulate a set of strategies to help those who want to engage with the technology futures approach. Ultimately, with our work, we aim to enhance our understanding of how HCI can engage with designing awe-inspiring futures to support reflections around possible futures.