After a very interesting briefing about our new project/course today, I am feeling super excited to begin. The conversations and readings around the project have been revolving around the ideas of ubiquitous computing and Mark Weiser to Italo Calvinos Invisible Cities and Kevin Lynch’s the Image of a city. So I’m not very clear of the brief yet, but it obviously has something to do with pervasive technology and Pittsburgh and people and relationships and new media art and.. and.. a lot more.

But it got me thinking- its very cool to build these technology centered societies and cities – but it is increasingly making me wonder about why exactly? What kind of question or problem is the technology an answer to?

Any kind of innovative formula today means the inclusion of technology. I do not by any means want to reject technology, I am merely a technology skeptic. I am only questioning the worldwide drive to include technology in everything around us. I understand that pervasive computing, smart homes, wearable computing, and lots of other stuff I may not be aware of are here to stay and will continue to transform the way we live. But the important question here is HOW?

John Thackara provides a very important point to ponder about: he says, “Sensitivity to context, to relationships, and to consequences are key aspects of the transition from mindless development to design mindfulness”. I think personally, this is my design challenge for this project.