Techno-Eco Cultures | March 2023
View technology here.
For this project, I chose to create a futuristic application that would link to a technology that can, in a way, translate the language of trees. I challenged myself to create a speculative technology that would not inherently be a technological fix which was a very common theme in the theory readings throughout the quarter. My technology would offer endless possibilities without solely attempting to ‘fix’ everything itself.
The company that has created this technology is called Envira (just a random name with an environmental twist) and has the goal of promoting humanity’s entanglement with nature and understanding the importance of the ecosystems we are implicated in. The most prominent aspect of nature discussed in our class was the complexity of trees. Designing Nature by David J. Staley discusses the importance of trees in the politics of our future. Staley states that “it is possible that we will come to see healthy, sprawling forests as an important means of controlling the levels of atmospheric CO2 such that the status of trees might become a crucial global political issue” (7). He continues by alluding to fresh water as the “oil of the twenty-first century” as a current political importance. As CO2 emission has become an important economic issue in today’s world, the photosynthetic properties of trees are becoming increasingly more relevant and may become the next “politics of fresh water.” More land will be needed for forest growth and maintenance. This is where Envira comes into play. Healthier forests and a better understanding of them would allow for greater production and efficiency. Envira would allow companies to have a greater knowledge of each individual tree’s needs for optimal prosperity. This communication could be used in a variety of ways. The information gathered could be used to make any necessary improvements or prevent the spread of infestations or even as a tool to receive grants or donations for the work being done. Envira is simply a tool that can be used to help improve the environment drastically.
As for the piece of art itself, I chose an interactive application that would connect to this technology to allow the user to explore, learn, and contemplate the importance of this technology. The interface is relatively simple due to time constraints but all of the decisions were made to create a futuristic style without going beyond the realm of plausible futures. The ‘connect to device’ feature is by far the simplest and inconsequential segment to the overarching goal of the piece but was still necessary to include in the application. The next feature is the ‘view records’ portion which is the most important piece for the fictional user. This shows the data taken from the technology and translates it to inform the user what the tree is communicating. There is only one-way communication which is an important aspect of the piece that I will touch on later. This information has the option to be downloaded which would allow for it to be sent out. The final feature is the ‘explore’ tab. This tab allowed me to use my creative knowledge and tools to visually represent the technology in a 3-dimensional render and animation. Unfortunately, I was unable to import the animation because of a required payment through Figma so it will be shown separately. Finally, the ‘about’ subsection of the ‘explore’ tab gives a short summary and description of the company for a deeper understanding for the viewer to further consider the implications of this speculative technology.
In our very first reading of the quarter, the foreword to Loosed Upon the World by Paolo Bacigalupi, we are introduced to the idea of a techno-fix that humanity has been caught in. Bacigalupi explains the techno-fix as a way humans have thought about the future; we are an innovative species that are so preoccupied with solving our problems through technology because of how much easier it is to understand and implement despite the transient nature of the solution. The human mind reacts quickly and is easily manipulated by instant gratification which makes it harder to conceptualize the abstract complexities of long-term issues or theories. Bacigalupi states that “social fixes are hard, and complicated, and require human cooperation and restraint, whereas fantasy techno-fixes are easy” (3). When the world is so captivated by technological fixes, social change becomes so much more difficult.
This brings me back to Envira and the reason to only have a one-way communication with the tree. In the creation of this technology, I thought how this technology would be incorporated socially. Without allowing for communication back to the tree, I would be creating need for more social interaction and initiative. This drew inspiration from one of the short stories in “Entanglement” by Vandana Singh which also came from Loosed Upon the World. The story takes place in a city within the dying overheated Amazon Rainforest. The main character, aware of society’s ignorance towards the failing environment and atmosphere, is set on finding a way to solve the issue of climate change. Her solution was intriguing to me as it was not a technology that was created, but the use of art to attract people into using eco-friendly practices (Singh 11). For my speculative technology, I wanted to invoke a similar sort of social change. With Envira, one would be able to engage in conversations that relate much more deeply with nature and even strengthen our connection within our ecosystems.
This art piece was envisioned through a phone application that would link to a technology that can translate the language of trees, offer endless possibilities without solely attempting to ‘fix’ everything itself. The viewer is meant to be encouraged to ponder human entanglement with nature and see the possibilities beyond a technological fix.
View technology here.
Bibliography
Bacigalupi, Paolo. “Foreword.” Loosed upon the World: The Saga Anthology of Climate Fiction, Saga Press, New York, 2015.
Singh, Vandana. “Entanglement.” Loosed upon the World: The Saga Anthology of Climate Fiction, Saga Press, New York, 2015.
Staley, David J. “Designing Nature.” Visionary Histories, Center for Science and the Imagination, Tempe, AZ, 2022.
Joe Goodacre 