Human enhancement and sensory augmentation.
The future of communication is intimately connected to rapid technological change and its social, cultural and economic consequences. This unit explores digital futures in terms of ‘digital’ technologies and communicative media, and in terms of ‘futures’, drawing from innovation studies and forecasting methods. While what may be considered ‘new’ digital technologies and practices evolve year on year, change is a consistent feature in our media and digital landscapes, professional lives, and everyday practise. As such, this unit draws from foresight methods to move our understanding of digital futures beyond speculation. Virtual reality, artificial intelligence, human augmentics are among the most popular science fiction topics for future scenarios, and also among current technological innovations. Assignment requirements: You will develop case study/reflective report on ‘Human enhancement and sensory augmentation’ (e.g. hearing aids and retinal implants to improve sensory perception, bionic eyes, telescopic contact lenses etc.) topic. For example, your case study should focus on an emerging immersive technologies and the future of human augmentics, on one foresight method (all possible and potential implication of technology), and your forecast for its impact on our digital futures – as further described below. Students are expected to select one foresight method (e.g. horizon scanning, mapping, expert consultation, speculative fiction). Based on this method, students must explore the method, demonstrating their understanding of how it works and reporting their findings and research process. You will develop a reflective analysis including a forecast of your case study. The writing style should be reflective and evidence-based, explaining the way academic or popular debates relate to the case. Students are advised to focus on one specific aspect of the ‘digital future’ for their futures forecast. In addition, students should have a personally reflective section addressing, for example, what students learned, what worked (or didn’t work) about the foresight method, and examining the strengths and limitations of their future forecast.