Intelligent perspectives

Integrating emerging technology in a meaningful way is not only dependent upon truly understanding the potential and limitations of the technology, but moreover finding innovative applications and creative roles. Richard Koshalek, ex-President of LA’s MOCA of the Pasadena Art Center College and Design, who is now at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum in Washington stated that “designers are the alchemists of the future”. Our paper, titled “Future Alchemists” from 2005 seems to contradict that point of view by claiming futurists are the alchemists of the future. Concocting powerful new ways of leveraging the intelligence of the technology itself or the intelligence it can drive or inspire requires taking a whole-minded aptitude, what John Heskett describes in his book “Design”, as a combination of “utility and significance.” It is a matter of considering the technology from multiple perspectives that extend its potential to embrace new narratives and meaning.

Here we would consider the use of the mass spectrometer for the generation of nanoart on displays, or artificial intelligence and sensors to create audio responsive plants as a walkway feature innovative, working applications of emerging technologies. The same could be said for the use of augmented reality overlays for product demonstrations or intelligent neurofeedback technologies and wearware that can be used to build attendee profiles.