Thesis outline _ outdraw

Intro

How can the obsolescence of digital and information devices (DCIDs) become an opportunity for design?

Nowadays, many different DCIDs exist, even though many have the same components and functions. They allow us to interact with each other and to entertain ourselves, thus we recognize them as necessary. However, they are not designed in order to have a long life because they are closed systems. Thus, average users take for granted their obsolescence and they tend to look forward the next new model. Furthermore, they are very polluting and as, after their use, we don’t know how to dismiss them, thus Western countries export them elsewhere in order not to face the problem.

As the “eighty percent of the environmental impact of the products, service, and infrastructures around us is determined at the design stage”[1], I can assume that the obsolescence of DCIDs is a problem of design.


Chapter 01: The intrinsic paradox
No one does wrong willingly, but it’s unwillingly that all who do wrong do wrong. (Socrate, The Georgias)

Why the so called convenient lifestyles, which are supposed to simplify our lives, tend to deeply damage the only world where we can live as well as to wide human rights differences amongst people? I’ve found very interesting to discover that such a practical problem is hard to sort out even on a philosophical level, where the world of means of communication struggles itself to “hold a constructive communication”/ “get along” with itself (device with device), with users and with the environment in the sake of cheap competitive production.

01.A_ DCID’s as catalysers of human relationships?
What people like most is indeed to hold human relationships. Because of that, digital devices tend to be very popular by shortening space and time amongst people. In particular, those which give the sense of allowing and increasing human contacts are the most used as well as the most popular. Thus, we tend to consider them participating links to the world. Therefore, we need them in order to have the feeling to be part of it. However, I am wondering if this sense of independency that they provide tends instead to provide the opposite as well as the incapability to be in silent on our own for a little while. Unfortunately, those devices which give the sense of allowing and increasing human contacts not only are the most used as well as the most popular but are also those which are likely to become obsolete faster because people are willing and happy to switch their electronics when they give them the feeling to increase human contact, as for example the webcam does.

01.B_ DCID’s as E-Waste
“The world is consuming more and more electronic products every year…This has caused a dangerous explosion in electronic scrap (e-waste) containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals that cannot be disposed of or recycled safely.”[2]


Chapter 02: Eros and Thanatos
The way in which we tend to perceive, relate and use objects is dictated and addressed by their design itself in the whole lifecycle of products.

02.A_ The lifecycle of DCID’s and people’s attachment
A possible solution that design could offer to the complex problem of the obsolescence of DCIDs is in the combination of the whole lifecycle of the product with the development of the attachment of people to the devices.

02.B_ A different approach in DCID’s use
It’s not just a physical matter but also an emotional one. The way in which we tend to perceive and relate to them is indeed a crucial point for a different approach in their use.

02.C_ A more rational use of resources
Nowadays, many companies are facing with legislation changes, addressing different ways to produce, which avoid the use of toxic chemicals in production and push to recycle materials after the use.


Chapter 03: Modular design
“Electronics products often have a hierarchical modular structure organized in a tree like manner with roots that are connected to sub-roots and sub-roots connected to other sub-roots and leaves…One of the characteristics of such structures is that the common modules and components together with other modules and components can be used to form new products with completely different structures”[i]

03.A_ Interaction of a system with a bigger system, with a bigger system…
A different way to represent the concept of “containing” as well as “connecting” can lead towards a more flexible conception of digital communication and information devices. Perceiving each component as a system which interacts with a bigger system, which interacts with an even bigger system, allow me to think that it’s possible to design more sustainable devices through the personalization of function and use.

03.B_ The personalization of function and use
Modular design allows to avoid the repetition of the common components, which instead would be shared amongst the dedicated parts, and to push towards a more rational use of materials, as people would have the chance to choose, change and upload only the components that they effectively need to.

Conclusion: A better world is possible
“Design decisions shape the processes behind the products we use , the materials and energy required to make them, the ways we operate them on a daily basis…”[3]



[1] Thackara, J., 2005, In the bubble: designing in a complex world, The MIT Press, Cambridge, p 1.
[2] Greenpeace, Eliminate toxic chemicals, [online], http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics, [Accessed 18 October 2008]
[3] Thackara, J., 2005, In the bubble: designing in a complex world, The MIT Press, Cambridge, p 1.
[i] Lambert, A.J.D., and Gupta, S.M., 2002, Demand-driven disassembly optimization for electronic products, Journal of Electronics Manufacturing, 11 (2), p. 121.

Thesis outline_02

Intro:
How can the obsolescence of digital communication and information devices DCIDs become an opportunity for design?

Chapter 01: The intrinsic paradox
DCID’s as catalysers of human relationship?
DCID’s as E-Waste

Chapter 02: Eros and Thanatos
The lifecycle of DCID’s and people’s attachment
A different approach in DCID’s use
A more rational use of resources

Chapter 03: Modular design
Interaction of a system with a bigger system, with a bigger system…
The personalization of function and use

Conclusion:
Perceiving effective needs

Thesis outline

How can the obsolescence of digital communication and information devices DCIDs become an opportunity for design? Nowadays, many different DCIDs exist, even though many have the same components and functions. They allow us to interact with each other and to entertain ourselves, thus we recognize them as necessary. However, they are not designed in order to have a long life because they are closed systems. Thus, average users take for granted their obsolescence and they tend to look forward the next new model. Furthermore, they are very polluting and as, after their use, we don’t know how to dismiss them, thus we export them elsewhere in order not to face the problem.

“The world is consuming more and more electronic products every year…This has caused a dangerous explosion in electronic scrap (e-waste) containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals that cannot be disposed of or recycled safely.”[1]

Why the so called convenient lifestyles, which are supposed to simplify our lives, tend to deeply damage the only world where we can live? It is also a problem of design. The way in which we tend to perceive, relate and use objects is dictated and addressed by their design itself in the whole lifecycle of products.

“He (Thamus) knows that the uses made of any technology are largely determined by the structure of the technology itself.”[2]

A possible solution that design could offer to this complex problem is in the combination of the whole lifecycle of the product with the development of the attachment of people to the devices. It’s not just a physical matter but also an emotional one. The way in which we tend to perceive and relate to them is indeed a crucial point for a different approach in their use.

In order to reach my purpose, I’ve been contacting personally professional people in the field of technology; at the same time, I’ve been sending out questionnaires to ten people/users. This is in order to have a wider vision of the field of technology as well as to explore possible developments and changes of human habits.

“Electronics products often have a hierarchical modular structure organized in a tree like manner …One of the characteristics of such structures is that the common modules and components together with other modules and components can be used to form new products with completely different structures”[3]

Perceiving each component as a system which interacts with a bigger system, which interacts with an even bigger system, allow me to think that it’s possible to design more sustainable devices through the personalization of function and use.

To conclude, I would say that a different structure of the system, could lead to a more interactive, democratic and rational use of the devices, because of the more rational use of resources that it involves. Indeed, the act of letting the people understand the way in which devices work would provide a platform which will help people to perceive better their effective needs.

[1] Greenpeace, Eliminate toxic chemicals, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics, [Accessed 18 October 2008]

[2] Postman, N., 1993, Technopoly, 2nd, Vintage Books, New York, p.7.

[3] Lambert, A.J.D., and Gupta, S.M., 2002, Demand-driven disassembly optimization for electronic products, Journal of Electronics Manufacturing, 11 (2), p. 121.