Performing fingers overlayed Hand, Scanner

The Panic at the Studio 🪩

Reflecting on weeks zero to seven, I realised the problem was that I had to update my CPJ regularly. Updating weeks five to seven made me realise I missed out on opportunities for feedback. I spent the day catching up on CPJ, and things got clearer.

① Indulging in Tardigrade 😭

I also learnt more about Tardigrades. There are 1,300+ species, split among three classes, differing in head size, segmentation shape and number, and claws on each toe. Eutardigrada, Mesotardigrada, and Heterotardigrada - but Meso no longer exists because their entire kind died in an earthquake in Japan. (Schill 2018)

  • Figure 4. Illustration of Thermozodium esakii by Gilbert Rahm , 1937

  • Notes on Tardigrades 2024

  • Then I started reading about 'Speculative Everything' by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby where I made some notes.

  • Speculative Everything 2013 Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby

  • Which I highlighted that speculative design goal is to create space for discussio, debate about alternative ways of living and to inspire and encourage people's imagination to flow freely. While also taking global challenges into consideration and aim to change human behaviour for the better.

  • Notes on Speculative Everything

  • Next, I highlighted that in the future-oriented scenarios we develop, there should be scientifically possible, and second, there should be a path from where we are today to where we are in the scenario. I was then curious about current scienctific knowledge on Tardigrades.

  • This news is scary. Military scientists in China say they have inserted a gene from the microscopic water bear into human embryonic stem cells and significantly increased these cells’ resistance to radiation.

  • CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool to take genes from the water bear that produce shielding proteins and insert them into artificially cultured (a distinction the team claims made the experiment legal) human embryonic cells. The study was proven successful in 2023, and I guess China is on its way to creating a super solider

    Reflection:
    Tardigrade is a challenging subject for creating a fictional world right now. It feels like a superhero comic book that I would illustrate for and not really a computational project I would do. Furthermore, I must keep actively finding scientific resources to support my prototype which I do not know I have the energy with me now.

② Backtrack!

Reflecting on 'Speculative Everything', I was prompted to bring a bit of the everyday into my next step. How can I accept the fictional nature of design speculations rather than trying to convince viewers that a hybrid humand and tardigrade is real.

=

  • Reflection:

    In recent weeks, I've been working hard to develop new ideas for fostering unique relationships with the natural world, aiming to encourage people to connect with nature. However, using sensors and technology has always seemed off to the intention. After reading "Speculative Everything" and being in a contant meltdown, I decided to take a break and go for a jog. I jog often but this time, I began to reconsider my connection with the physical environment as I pass by the trees, cars, people and sometimes rats. Then, it clicked in me! The mix of technological devices built for productivity plus my desire to work hard creates is the reason why I find it difficult to be in close contact with the physical world.

  • Running journal entry 3 Oct 2024

  • Rubber Hand Experiment Link

  • ③ – RPO Draft Submission

    As the submission for the research proposal outline is coming soon, the rest of the week was used to to write and reframe my creative problem. The final conclusion came down to this:

    • (1)Human Senses: Where our senses are constantly evolved through sensing machines


    • (2)Human-Nature Relationship: As technology advancement shapes our interaction, humans are increasing losing direct contact with the natural environment which can lead to bad environmental behaviour.


    • (3)Speculative Design: What if climate-stress have led to humans creating prosthetics to regain the loss sensory of our natural environment?

  • See Yourself Sensing 2011 Madeline Schwartzman

  • Sensing Machines 2022 Chris Salter

  • The Human Relation With Nature and Technological Nature 2009 Association for Psychological Science

Reflection 😮‍💨