How can design serve as a catalyst for critique and speculation within complex systems? Inspired by the notion of design as a tool for envisioning alternative futures, we embarked on a quest to identify opportunities within existing frameworks and propose compelling alternatives.
Partnering with Time Square Alliance, we were given a unique opportunity to apply futures-studies methods and speculative principles to reposition, reimagine, and envision transformations in and around Times Square. Some questions that guided our project were:
- What unbuilt futures are there?
- How might we bring our futures experiences to life in an immersive way?
- Who would you like to engage with, explore Times Square with?
- Whose futures would you like to amplify?
- How do you balance desirable and undesirable futures?
- What conversations would you like to have about futures of Times Square?
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 boosted the development of different technologies aiming to prevent and control the consequences of the virus worldwide. Governments, corporations, and academia are already thinking about what they can do to prevent the next pandemic or other health threats that worsen with climate change.
At the forefront of these endeavors, groundbreaking research has unveiled a spectrum of innovations, from COVID smell cyborgs undergoing rigorous testing, to canines trained to sniff out cancer, and even individuals with heightened olfactory senses capable of detecting conditions like Parkinson's. In envisioning a future where such scent technologies are deployed on a grand scale to safeguard public spaces, we introduce SAM – the Scent AI for Smart Cities.
SAM stands as our speculative embodiment of a smell cyborg, equipped not only to detect emerging pandemics and communicable diseases in the air but also to monitor individual health conditions. Additionally, SAM is being trained to identify threats beyond health hazards, including explosives, weapons, and other dangerous substances, enhancing overall safety and security.
Fast forward to the year 2050, our project delves into the societal implications and ethical considerations surrounding the widespread adoption of such technology. We explore the multifaceted dimensions of public opinion, emotional responses, and the critical discourse on data privacy management in an era where data commodification has left lasting scars on society. Through our speculative journey, we endeavor to provoke thoughtful dialogue and shape a future where technological advancements harmonize with ethical imperatives for the betterment of humanity.
Following our signal analysis, we sought to investigate the integration of smell technology into urban safety measures. Our exploration yielded two primary scenarios:
1. Disease outbreaks and pandemics
2. Issues related to migration and crime.
Field Research
During our first visit to Times Square as researchers for the "New York City Public Innovation Program," our aim was to spark dialogue and see which of the two scenarios created more reactions and which ones evoked discomfort among the public.
Learnings
Based on our conversations and observations:
Of individuals expressed heightened curiosity regarding the potential of scent-based technology in disease detection, particularly due to its inclusive nature applicable to everyone.
Of participants displayed a willingness to undergo testing by the AI scent cyborg, reflecting a strong belief in its effectiveness and reliability
Of individuals expressed reduced concerns regarding data privacy when assured of the project's support by the NYC government, indicating a significant level of trust and confidence in governmental endorsement.
Solution Objectives
To stimulate dialogue on critical societal concerns surrounding technology with the introduction of an innovative AI cyborg, trained to detect emerging pandemics, monitor communicable diseases in the air, and assess individual health conditions.
This experiment serves as a catalyst for exploring public opinions, emotions, and ethical considerations surrounding this groundbreaking technology. Our objective is to spark engaging discussions on topics including data privacy, ownership, and public safety, while also delving into preventive measures cities can implement to mitigate the risk of future global pandemics.
User Journey
How SAM work
Prototype
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We prepared the test results to provide participants in our experiment after they underwent scent analysis by the robot. The intention behind sharing these results was to illustrate the range of aspects and conditions SAM can identify through scent. We were intrigued to gauge participants' interest in receiving such information about their health and to understand their perceptions of this technology in terms of its potential utopian or dystopian implications.
Implementation
