The design of our own lives Technical mediation and subjectivation

186 Pages·2013·1.35 MB·English

The design of our own lives is about how technology guides and changes us. The book brings
together converging trends in design theory and philosophy of technology concerning
the mutual adaptation of technologies and humans. The aim is to contribute to the under-
standing of the impact of technology on us, to consider how this knowledge can be applied
in design practice, as well as to discuss ethical questions about behavior guiding design.
The book begins by discussing the themes of user guiding and changing technology in
relation to design for usability. Next, the project is compared to the tradition of socially
engaged and utopian design. The central part sets out philosophical and ethical research on
the interrelations between humans and technology.
The work of the French philosopher Michel Foucault is of key importance to this study
and is used for elaborating a framework of ‘technical mediation and subjectivation’. In
this approach, technology is not set in opposition to human freedom and morality; rather
coping with the influences of technology is seen as part of becoming a moral subject.
The ethics of technology developed after Foucault focuses on care for the quality of our
interactions and fusions with technology. Hybridization is central to the approach: it is not
to be rejected, neither is it the greatest danger, but it does deserve the greatest care. We are
called upon to care for the design of our own lives.
The book contains a variety of examples. A case study about the RFID public transport
e–paying system in the Netherlands (OV chip card), for instance, serves to illustrate how
social and ethical aspects — from usability to privacy and security issues — can be assessed
from the perspective of product impact on users.
Steven Dorrestijn (born 1977, Netherlands) graduated in Philosophy of Science, Technology
and Society at the University of Twente in 2004. He also followed a two–year program in
mechanical engineering and courses on the history of design. In 2005–2006 Dorrestijn
studied philosophy in Paris with the support of a grant from the French Government. This Steven Dorrestijn
PhD research was conducted at the University of Twente, Netherlands, from 2007 until
2012.
The design of our own lives
ISBN 978-90-36534-42-0
Technical mediation and subjectivation
ISBN 978–90–365–3442–0 after Foucault
9 789036 534420
The design of our own lives Technical mediation and subjectivation after Foucault Steven Dorrestijn
The design of our own lives is about how technology guides and changes us. The book brings
together converging trends in design theory and philosophy of technology concerning
the mutual adaptation of technologies and humans. The aim is to contribute to the under-
standing of the impact of technology on us, to consider how this knowledge can be applied
in design practice, as well as to discuss ethical questions about behavior guiding design.
The book begins by discussing the themes of user guiding and changing technology in
relation to design for usability. Next, the project is compared to the tradition of socially
engaged and utopian design. The central part sets out philosophical and ethical research on
the interrelations between humans and technology.
The work of the French philosopher Michel Foucault is of key importance to this study
and is used for elaborating a framework of ‘technical mediation and subjectivation’. In
this approach, technology is not set in opposition to human freedom and morality; rather
coping with the infl uences of technology is seen as part of becoming a moral subject.
The ethics of technology developed after Foucault focuses on care for the quality of our
interactions and fusions with technology. Hybridization is central to the approach: it is not
to be rejected, neither is it the greatest danger, but it does deserve the greatest care. We are
called upon to care for the design of our own lives.
The book contains a variety of examples. A case study about the RFID public transport
e–paying system in the Netherlands (OV chip card), for instance, serves to illustrate how
social and ethical aspects — from usability to privacy and security issues — can be assessed
from the perspective of product impact on users.
Steven Dorrestijn (born 1977, Netherlands) graduated in Philosophy of Science, Technology
and Society at the University of Twente in 2004. He also followed a two–year program in
mechanical engineering and courses on the history of design. In 2005–2006 Dorrestijn
studied philosophy in Paris with the support of a grant from the French Government. This Steven Dorrestijn
PhD research was conducted at the University of Twente, Netherlands, from 2007 until
2012.
The design of our own lives
ISBN 978-90-36534-42-0
Technical mediation and subjectivation
ISBN 978–90–365–3442–0 after Foucault
9 789036 534420
The design of our own lives Technical mediation and subjectivation after Foucault Steven Dorrestijn
The design of our own lives
Technical mediation and subjectivation after Foucault
THE DESIGN OF OUR OWN LIVES
TECHNICAL MEDIATION AND SUBJECTIVATION AFTER FOUCAULT
DISSERTATION

to obtain the degree of doctor at the Univerity of Twente,
on the authority of the rector magnifcus, Prof. dr. H. Brinksma,
on account of the decision of the graduation committee,
to be publicly defended on Wednesday the 10th of October 2012 at 14:45 hrs
by
Steven Dorrestijn,
born on 26th of July 1977
in Wisch, Netherlands
This dissertation has been approved by promotor and assistant promotor:

Prof.dr.ir. P.P.C.C. Verbeek and Prof.dr. H.J. Achterhuis
© Steven Dorrestijn, 2012
ISBN: 978–90–365–3442–0
The design of our own lives
Technical mediation and subjectivation
after Foucault
Steven Dorrestijn
University of Twente · PhD Thesis
October 2012
Promotion Committee:
Prof.dr. H. Procee (chairman, University of Twente)
Prof.dr.ir. P.P.C.C. Verbeek (promoter, University of Twente)
Prof.dr. H.J. Achterhuis (ass. promoter, University of Twente)
Prof.dr. J.–P. Warnier (Centre d’Etudes africaines, EHESS–IRD, Paris, France)
Prof.dr. H. Kunneman (University of Humanistic Studies)
Prof.dr. J.W. Drukker (University of Twente)
Prof.ir. D. van Eijk (Technical University Delft)
Prof.dr. P.J.H. Kockelkoren (University of Twente)
Prof.dr. P.A.E. Brey (University of Twente)
This research was made possible by the support of the Innovation–Oriented Research
Program ‘Integrated Product Creation and Realization (IOP IPCR)’ of the Netherlands
Ministry of Economic Afairs, Agriculture and Innovation.
The printing of this thesis has been fnancially supported by the Netherlands Graduate
School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC) and by the University of
Twente Philosophy department.

Third edition.
Printed by Wöhrmann Print Service, Zutphen, Netherlands.
Cover image: Building Blocks 1997, copyright © Kumi Yamashita.
Author photo by Agnes Booijink, Hengelo (O.), Netherlands.
Bookdesign: Bert Vanderveen BNO, Enschede, Netherlands.
© 2012 Steven Dorrestijn.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission
of the author.
Dedicated to my parents