Architectural Critique of Connected Utopias by Thomas Wendt

Thomas Wendt started his talk with Prometheus story, how he deceived Zeus and got punished forever because of his actions to help human. Compared to his brother Epimetheus, it's interesting that he is the one who think things forward(Pro), not afterward(Epi).

He criticized connected world from 3 dimensions which are (in)visibility, solutionism, and sustainability. Google is transforming NYC's payphone booths to WiFi hub and people are happy to enjoy free services, but it is not visible that we have to offer whole bunch of our private information and be exposed to ADs. We can also find "innovations for innovations' sake" such as Egg Minder the smart egg tray and Pooper the solution that makes other people get your dog's poop.

He said he didn't have solutions but he suggested a few disciplines not to be a part of think-less world of connectedness. We designers must have ecological thinking, considering how we dwell. Being cunning, critical, political, and co-operative will help.

This was the best talk of the day for me. what he pointed out have been concerning me these days - designers not conscious enough of the consequences. Using tech because it is a trend. Producing apps for making apps. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to check my design philosophy of why I am designing things for whom.