Roundtable Statement

As our modern lives become dominated by technology and assisted by mobile devices, the interfaces between physical and digital are increasingly seamless and fluid. Yet beneath that smooth veneer, issues of privacy and data collection lead to questions about the longevity and permeability of our self-documentation, and concerns about how our digital footprint is stored. Despite this, adoption of digital tools (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, weblogs) are widespread and well received and used. The next generation of storage, cloud computing, has seen widespread adoption with increased storage offered in ‘free’ anonymous servers (e.g. Dropbox, Google drive). From a user perspective, we ask why the unquestioning adoption of these technologies has become the norm, and not only that, almost expected? Is it purely convenience (mobile devices are close to hand) or is it because companies now have so much data to glean our habits and triggers, to design rewards and new models to hook us further. Alternatively, has UI design for mobile finally come of age? Is it better understood that smoother, more efficient digital experiences can be created, whilst downplaying the darker side of the digital experience? Is it now time for Slow Technology – a design paradigm to embed users even more fully into technology – and does this present an opportunity to educate and co-create more holistic, ethical digitally-mediated experiences? This roundtable will lead debate on the roles artists, designers, and developers could and should play on ethics and openness of mobile technology. Drawing on the Slow Technology and Open Source movements, we will provoke, prod and produce via co-creative software during the debate, providing a digital trail during and post event, encouraging virtual and physical interpretations and responses. Paradoxically, these trails will embody the very concerns and concepts under discussion, namely of provenance, authenticity, trust, and privacy. The roundtable participants have set up this wordpress site to be a record for the roundtable discussion. They encourage audience members to use the site to ask questions and interact with the speakers before, during and after the roundtable.  lovelyveneer.wordpress.com

• Ruth Aylett, Heriot-Watt University, UK