Abstract:

This paper discusses the concept of paradox in communication networks and the relations defined by artifacts with living entities in hybrid ecologies. While communication networks are essential in our daily life, this paper presents how the relationship between people and devices poses critical questions as paradoxes and challenges. The paradox of socio-technical impotence and time-pressure presents two challenges: the absence of time and space and the presence of ownership and filter. This theoretical framework constitutes a background for Device Boundaries, a design research project that seeks for sociality among people and devices. The aim of Device Boundaries is to encourage close distance communication among people by superimposing digital layers over physical communities. The resulting ecology shapes an alternative communication network. Accordingly, the paper first illustrates the role of technological devices in our social life and describes the ecological paradoxes and challenges. Then, it explores how we might liberate communication technologies from these paradoxes, and introduces a series of case studies that adopt alternative systems to the creation of networks of services. In conclusion, it factualizes and discusses the theoretical research in a series of design projects under Device Boundaries research.

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