awareness_amplification.mdwn (2466B)
1 **Awareness amplification** is an important purpose of computing as well as 2 a design [[principle|principles]] of permacomputing. In general, it refers 3 to technologies that make the world (including the local environment) more 4 observable to people, but it also includes making computers more aware and 5 sensitive of their surroundings. 6 7 Observation can be either active or passive. The user may specifically focus 8 on a specific part of the world or have a background awareness of what is 9 going on in general. This is a major difference from 10 [[intelligence amplification]] that emphasizes an active and narrow focus on 11 specific objects of information. 12 13 When amplifying the user's background awareness, it is crucial to not steal 14 their attention. Many user interface designs fail this; a common mistake is 15 to use intrusive notifications for events that are unrelated to the user's 16 current focus of attention. [[Soundscape]]s and landscape-like 17 [[visualization]]s could offer a non-intrusive alternative. 18 19 The more complex a technology is, the more important it is that it dedicates 20 a portion of this complexity to explain itself. Simple tools such as hammers 21 or bicycles are pretty much self-explanatory due to their simple and easily 22 observable designs, but computers need to amplify their own observability in 23 order to be observable at all. 24 25 Examples of awareness amplification within core computing: 26 27 * A non-intrusive visualization of everything the computer knows about its environment (energy sources, network traffic, data from any additional sensors the computer is connected to) 28 * A computer that adjusts its operation to what it knows about its environment. 29 * A [[user interface]] that makes the computer's inner workings and material-energetic conditions easily observable to the user. 30 31 More applicative ideas: 32 33 * A [[sensor]] system that increases the observability of the ecosystem the computer and its users belong to, including the cultivated and constructed parts thereof. This may help people notice changes and details that beyond the reach of normal human senses. 34 * [[Simulation]]s of ecosystems, economic systems and other "subsystems of the world" can be used in planning as well as in gaining deeper insight to how these systems work. 35 * Many [[intelligence amplification]] applications may also amplify awareness: automatic information retrieval, mind-mapping and note-taking systems, co-operative telecommunications environments, etc.