Abstract
Current notions of design are strongly influenced by user- and human-centred approaches. However, with technologies that present increasing computing power and context-awareness, and algorithms that ‘design themselves’, designers are beginning to face issues that go beyond the needs of users. In this paper, we argue that the focus on humans not only neglects the increasing potential of machines, but also other forms of life, limiting design’s possibilities. We attempt to investigate the design of machines with autonomy, beyond human-centred and anthropocentric views, and present an alternative approach, in which machines do not serve or command humans, but exist and evolve in parallel with them. We present this exploration through three design concepts (Gatekeeper on the Mission, Perception Companion, and Poet on the Shore) that seek to explore notions of independence, interdependence, and identification between humans and machines. We conclude by discussing the main challenges faced in these three perspectives and future directions for research.
Keywords
autonomy; machines; solidarity; design provocation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2018.394
Citation
Liu, Y., and Pschetz, L. (2018) Designing Machines with Autonomy: from independence to interdependence to solidarity, in Storni, C., Leahy, K., McMahon, M., Lloyd, P. and Bohemia, E. (eds.), Design as a catalyst for change - DRS International Conference 2018, 25-28 June, Limerick, Ireland. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2018.394
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Designing Machines with Autonomy: from independence to interdependence to solidarity
Current notions of design are strongly influenced by user- and human-centred approaches. However, with technologies that present increasing computing power and context-awareness, and algorithms that ‘design themselves’, designers are beginning to face issues that go beyond the needs of users. In this paper, we argue that the focus on humans not only neglects the increasing potential of machines, but also other forms of life, limiting design’s possibilities. We attempt to investigate the design of machines with autonomy, beyond human-centred and anthropocentric views, and present an alternative approach, in which machines do not serve or command humans, but exist and evolve in parallel with them. We present this exploration through three design concepts (Gatekeeper on the Mission, Perception Companion, and Poet on the Shore) that seek to explore notions of independence, interdependence, and identification between humans and machines. We conclude by discussing the main challenges faced in these three perspectives and future directions for research.