Spooky Technology

Abstract

Our everyday technologies could have appeared terrifying to our ancestors: instantaneous disembodied communication, access to knowledge, objects with 'intelligence' that talk to us (and each other). Black boxes and intangible entities are omnipresent in our homes and lives without our necessarily understanding the hidden flows of data, unknown agendas, imaginary clouds, and mysterious rules that govern them. Have humanity's ways of relating to the unknown throughout history gone away, or have they perhaps transmuted into new forms?In an ongoing project, we have inventoried examples, encounters and reflections on contemporary technology, framed through the perspective of the haunted, spectral and otherworldly. In this paper, we excerpt this collection to illustrate the value and opportunity of an unfamiliar, disquieting perspective in helping to frame the frictions, beliefs and myths that are emerging around interactions with everyday technologies. We posit and demonstrate 'spooky technology' as an accessible framework to reflect and respond to our increasingly entangled relationships with technology.

(Un)making AI Magic: A Design Taxonomy

“…Many examples show how computational products easily turn from friendly enchanted things to spooky presences that surround us [32,104]. Targeted advertisements on personal devices, for instance, are highly associated with feelings of creepiness [130], especially due to the partial inexplicability of how the systems work and the people's impression of devices being always listening [17].…”

“…For each design principle, additional characterizations can be found and nuances in the related dynamics can be understood. For instance, the general principle of using magic metaphors can be further investigated to understand how different magic categories, whether creatures, objects, or 'fait' types [17], can bring distinct implications for how a product is perceived and approached. Similarly, one could develop specific practical techniques for working with each of the principles, for instance by delving into the distinct effects and implications of diverse stage magic techniques.…”