Surfacing Livingness in Microbial Displays
A Design Taxonomy for HCI
Raphael Kim (TU Delft - Materials and Manufacturing)
Clarice Risseeuw (TU Delft - Materials and Manufacturing)
E.G. Groutars (TU Delft - Mechatronic Design)
Elvin Karana (TU Delft - Materializing Futures)
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Abstract
In recent years, there has been a notable proliferation and diversification of works in HCI, that integrate living microorganisms; an imperative lifeform dominating ecosystems of our planet. Yet despite the growing interest, there is a lack of structured lenses with which designers can strategize their processes of surfacing livingness; a material quality inherent in living artefacts with a potential to enrich user experiences and to initiate mutualistic care between humans and microorganisms. Through a systematic artefacts review and a case study on Flavobacteria, we have developed and instantiated a Taxonomy of Surfacing Livingness in Microbial Displays, consisting of six microbe-sensitive, tuneable mechanisms for human noticing of microorganisms: 1) Canvassing, 2) Marking, 3) Magnifying, 4) Translating, 5) Nudging, and 6) Molecular Programming. The taxonomy invites diverse and adaptable ways of generating and crafting microbial displays; towards overcoming microbe-specific surfacing constraints, integrating diverse stakeholders' values, and enabling nuanced address of microbial welfare.
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