Abstract
This position paper reflects on Borgmann’s notion of ‘focal things’ and its applicability in the discourse about interaction with technologies in nature. Using the example of a combined cooking burner and thermoelectric 5W smartphone charger (a BioLite cook stove), this position paper gives an example of how a mundance “device” turns focal once it is connected to a contextual infrastructure (the ‘wild’), and reflects on the applicability of the notion of focality. The guiding question is how the notion of ‘focal things and practices’ drawn from Borgmann might help us think about the (strained) relationship between digital technologies and the wilderness.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2017 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
| Event | The 2nd workshop on NatureCHI: Unobtrusive User Experiences with Technology in Nature - Aula of Sciences/Aula Der Wissenschaften, Wien, Austria Duration: 4 Sept 2017 → 4 Sept 2017 Conference number: 2 http://www.naturechi.net/ |
Workshop
| Workshop | The 2nd workshop on NatureCHI |
|---|---|
| Number | 2 |
| Location | Aula of Sciences/Aula Der Wissenschaften |
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Wien |
| Period | 04/09/2017 → 04/09/2017 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Nature
- Wilderness
- Experience
- Philosophy
- Design