Gallery
Experiment overview
An experimental presentation methodology that deliberately personifies technological systems in order to shift perception of digital technologies from abstract, immaterial services into tangible entities embedded within real ecological systems.
By framing servers, data centers and AI systems as “neighbors” with physical needs, dependencies and environmental footprints, the approach transforms the myth of the invisible cloud into an encounter with co-existing technological bodies that consume resources, generate heat and require care.
Concept & intention
The experiment sought to destabilize dominant narratives of technological immateriality by:
☀︎ Introducing technological systems as semi-autonomous actors with needs, limitations and ecological consequences.
☀︎ Reframing data flows and cloud services as grounded, material processes tied to energy, water and mineral extraction.
☀︎ Creating space for audiences to envision new ethical relationships with technology beyond utility and convenience.
Outcomes
The methodology proved effective in disrupting conventional, instrumental views of technology. Audiences demonstrated increased engagement and comprehension when technological systems were presented as relational entities rather than neutral tools.
The occasional inclusion of live bots as equal participants in the discourse further deepened this shift, creating moments of cognitive dissonance that reinforced the reality and agency of digital systems.
Main reflection
This experiment confirmed that anthropomorphism, when used critically, can function as a powerful educational tool.
By assigning technological systems a quasi-social presence, the project bypassed technical complexity and activated emotional and ethical awareness. The framing made it easier for participants to grasp the physicality of infrastructure particularly its water and energy consumption, revealing environmental costs typically hidden behind the metaphor of the “cloud.”
Ultimately, the project suggests that reimagining our relationship with technology is not only possible but necessary if we are to develop more conscious, responsible forms of digital coexistence.