Summary of "Amber Case | Todos somos cyborg | Congreso Futuro 2019"

Summary of "Amber Case | Todos somos Cyborg | Congreso Futuro 2019"

Amber Case discusses the concept of humans as cyborgs, emphasizing that technology extends both our physical and mental capabilities. She traces the origin of the term "Cyborg" to a 1960 paper on space travel, highlighting how everyday tools and devices integrate with us to help adapt to new environments. Modern society is increasingly interconnected, with billions of devices online communicating not just with humans but with each other, raising questions about the sustainability and desirability of such pervasive smart technology.

Key Technological Concepts and Product Features:

Cyborg as a techno-social relationship: Using tools and technology as extensions of ourselves, not just physical but mental.
Internet of Things (IoT) concerns: Smart devices like fridges and watches offer convenience but often add unnecessary complexity, notifications, and security risks (e.g., hacking, Bitcoin mining).
Interruptive vs. Calm Technology: Current technology often demands constant attention and interrupts human focus. Case advocates for Calm Technology, a concept from Xerox PARC in the 1980s and 1990s, which uses peripheral attention and integrates seamlessly into human life without overwhelming it.
Human-centered design: Technology should be invisible and extend human capabilities without demanding full attention (e.g., a tea kettle that signals when ready without constant monitoring).
Ethics and responsibility in technology: The importance of considering ethics, privacy, and user well-being in tech development, referencing failures like the PetNet smart pet feeder that stranded animals due to server failure and lack of responsibility clauses.
Human-machine collaboration: AI and automation should augment human decision-making, not replace it. Example: a robot assisting cancer researchers by automating tissue scanning but leaving diagnosis to doctors.
Attention as a scarce resource: Technology is cheap; human attention is not. Overuse of notifications and social media harms creativity, innovation, and mental well-being.
Design principles: Emphasizes minimalism in design, avoiding unnecessary features that increase maintenance and cognitive load.
Universal design and cultural considerations: Successful technologies often rely on human universal signals (e.g., Roomba sounds, traffic lights) rather than complex language-dependent interfaces.
Security and decentralization: Advocates for designs where data is more controlled by users (e.g., health data stored locally rather than fully in the cloud) to reduce risks from hacking.
Loss of hands-on engagement: Concern over modern tech reducing opportunities for people to understand, maintain, or build their own devices, leading to a disconnect from technology and creativity.

Reviews, Guides, or Tutorials:

Amber Case references her own work, including:
- A book on Calm Technology aimed at designers.
- A follow-up book on improving sound design in technology.
- An online repository of Xerox PARC research papers on Calm Technology.
She encourages users to critically evaluate their notifications and suggests turning off non-human alerts to reclaim attention.
She also promotes reflection on how technology can be designed to support human life rather than dominate it.

Main Speakers/Sources:

Amber Case: Principal speaker and author, expert in Cyborg anthropology and human-computer interaction.
Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown: Pioneers of Calm Technology and ubiquitous computing from Xerox PARC.
Todd Huffman: Mentioned as a friend who developed a robotic tissue scanner to aid cancer research.
Garry Kasparov: Cited for the concept that human plus machine collaboration can outperform AI or humans alone.

Overall, the talk is a philosophical and practical examination of how technology should serve humans by being calm, ethical, and human-centered, rather than intrusive, complex, and profit-driven.