Speculative Activist Technologies

Asad, Mariam; Fox, Sarah; Le Dantec, Christopher A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47306 Copy

Description

Title

Speculative Activist Technologies

Author(s)

• Asad, Mariam
• Fox, Sarah
• Le Dantec, Christopher A.

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• activist technologies
• critical design
• participatory design
• organizational communication
• information management

Abstract

This paper explores the specific needs activists have of the technologies they use to manage their operations and promote their causes. To begin this exploration, we conducted two critical making workshops with participants who self-identified as activists and used craft materials -- such as cardboard, color markers, pipe cleaners, etc. -- to create speculative technologies to find commonalities across different forms of activist work, be it technological, organizational, or procedural. The needs and concerns expressed in the workshops were articulated through the participants' designs; they materialized their critiques, reflections, and explorations through their crafted prototypes. These prototypes point to opportunities for creating new design interventions to address the challenges and needs unique to activist organizations. The work suggests the need for more value-sensitivity and context-appropriateness in the design of interactive systems.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47306

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14074

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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