Make your own social technology to explore your social needs

We all have a need to balance our time between being together with others and being alone. For each and every single person the ideal balance is different. Technology (in all its complexity) influences our ability to keep this balance. What happens if we make our own social technologies? What do we learn about our social needs and our use of technology?

Making stories

Read about what others made, how they lived with it and what it learned them about themselves, technology and their social needs.

Pam’s ‘Soot Sprites’

Inspired by Studio Ghibli, Pam’s ‘Soot Sprites’ are tactile representations of each of her four teammates; they do not speak but instead express themselves through light...

By Pamela Nelson

The Upside Down Bot

This robot let’s you be alone when you flip it upside down. It’s not just functional, but also works as a token in the corner of my room to remind me of my social needs.

By Jasper Bunschoten

Moti & Hedgehog

Moti & Hedgehog are reflecting on how you might feel when you want to be together and more or less people are there. Moti greets you while waving and Hedgehog crawls out of his shell.

By Wendy Plas

Veronika’s ‘Puppet Bot’

This bot is about exploration of movements. The idea is about mimicing human gestures with help technologies. Also it give freadom of personalization of the communication...

By Veronika Radenkova

Background

This project started as a research project of four Master Digital Design students. When students Pamela, Wendy, Veronika and Jasper found themselves stuck at home due to Covid-19, they started experimenting with social technologies. This experience was so valuable to them that they developed this platform to make it available to more people.

Participate

Start up your personal research. Dive into the topic of social needs and technology. Order the kit, dowload the code, start building and learn about your own social needs and the influence of technology.