Papers by Aubrey Yee
The best way to predict the future is to invent it." ~ Alan Kay
Mutative Media: Communication Technologies and Power Relations in the Past, Present, and Futures
Mutative Media is a sweeping examination of how communication technologies have contributed to ch... more Mutative Media is a sweeping examination of how communication technologies have contributed to changes in people’s thoughts and actions, and thus in the power structures of societies, in the past, at present, and in four alternative futures.
We start by surveying what is generally known about the emergence of human language and speech that has enabled humans to extend their organizing abilities beyond that of other hominids. We then review research on the emergence of signs, symbols, and eventually writing, which led to new ways of thinking, acting, and organizing in scribal societies and vastly extended human influence globally. We consider the impact of the printing press in Europe, the Middle East, China, and Korea that led to various ways of thinking and organizing in modern societies, and conclude our historical survey with a discussion of the emergence and impact of electric and electronic communication technologies from the nineteenth century to the present.
After a brief overview of what “futures studies” is and is not, based on our extensive experience in the field, we present four generic alternative futures, and discuss a prototype of a hybrid, mixed-reality game designed to enable players to experience the power and potential of new communication technologies within four very different environments and conditions. We think you will be intrigued by our surprising findings and what they may mean for future generations!
The biotechnological era is upon us. We are living through a time when our very definitions of 'l... more The biotechnological era is upon us. We are living through a time when our very definitions of 'life,' 'nature,' and what it means to be human are being challenged, questioned and redefined. Intellectual property has played a major role in setting this stage, in creating the conditions of possibility as it were. In broad strokes, we can see that the advent of Intellectual Property as both a legal and cultural phenomenon in the world has shaped the way we understand innovation, private property and public goods in foundational ways. Beginning in the West, the practice of protecting intellectual property for private gain has spread worldwide as a result of globalization. Pockets of resistance remain and contested cases are always being heard that push or contract the rules in different directions. The collusion of neoliberal ideologies, globalization and the 'information society' have created a perfect storm where intellectual property can flourish. The complexity of the current global situation means that it is important to resist the temptation to isolate the 'nation-state' as the sole source of this situation. As Debbie Halbert explains in The State of Copyright:
Looking at the fields of bioengineering and synthetic biology, what is gained and what is lost in... more Looking at the fields of bioengineering and synthetic biology, what is gained and what is lost in the normative understanding of biological life as a tool to be engineered and employed in a neoliberal context? This paper examines what a new materialist-aesthetically informed politics of synthetic biology might look like in the future. William Connolly argues for an ethic of enhanced sensitivity in conjunction with a militant democratic politics as we attempt to manage the apparent death throes of both the neoliberal era and the dawning responsibilities of governing evolution. Along with Bruno Latour’s call for slowness as an ethical imperative, this paper explores how new materialist metaphorical narratives reinforce the embodied ethics of spiritual ecologists such as Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. How might images of aesthetic holism influence the scientific discourse of biological life as a tool to be engineered in service of humanity?
The tsunami hit us just a week ago, but already the store shelves are bare. The barely veiled pan... more The tsunami hit us just a week ago, but already the store shelves are bare. The barely veiled panic is palpable in the faces all around me, but we all hope that some form of help will arrive soon. With Honolulu and Lihue airports mostly wiped out, some supplies have been flown into Maui and the Big Island, but they aren't getting here to Oahu quick enough to quell the growing unease.
There is a very famous quote by Albert Einstein which reads, "Insanity: doing the same thing over... more There is a very famous quote by Albert Einstein which reads, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I think this sentiment defines and informs the work of both futurists, Lester Brown and Sohail Inayatullah, presented in this paper. While their methods and theories are quite different, their basic goal is the same: to lift humanity out of its current cycle of insane growth and destruction of the natural world into a new way of being that is more equitable, sustainable and enjoyable for all. Based in very different paradigms and philosophies, both methodically carry out their work in the world as futurists and agents of transformational change. I find great inspiration from both men and intend in this paper to familiarize you with their works and philosophies.
Nonkilling Futures-Visions
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications by Aubrey Yee
in response to a call for proposals on "Technology, Innovation, and Society" (hereafter TIS) from... more in response to a call for proposals on "Technology, Innovation, and Society" (hereafter TIS) from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Research at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. Focusing on category two (How does technology change the balance of power in society?), we were awarded a grant by the University of Hawai`i Foundation and agreed to a year-long research term commencing on January 1, 2012. In our research prospectus, we proposed to examine how communication technologies have contributed to changes in the structure of societies, and hence to the distribution of political power, in the past, at present, and in four alternative futures. We also proposed to rely on a survey and analysis of existing studies for our research into the past, produce original research on several contemporary events, utilize Futures Studies techniques of forecasting and scenario modeling in order to develop and present the possible four alternative futures, and develop a gaming platform based on our research. Journal of Futures Studies with significant contributions to the game from Aaron Rosa. Dr. Dator was responsible for the theoretical and historical portions of our research from the evolution of human language through the advent of television and the Internet. His research focused on how technologies shape what it means to be human with specific focus on dramatic shifts that sparked dramatic social change. Yee was responsible for gathering and analyzing information about contemporary communication technologies and their impacts from social media to emerging technologies. Her research emphasized the rise of new media and the nascent effects of communication technologies on various scales from bioengineering to big data. Sweeney took responsibility for research on theories of power and for the development of the game. His research examined modes of power that accounted for both the social and material aspects of technologies as well as methods and best practices for developing gameplay. Rosa contributed to gameplay by designing both the digital and actual artifacts used in the game, including the development of the mobile augmented reality (MAR) interface.
Drafts by Aubrey Yee
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Papers by Aubrey Yee
We start by surveying what is generally known about the emergence of human language and speech that has enabled humans to extend their organizing abilities beyond that of other hominids. We then review research on the emergence of signs, symbols, and eventually writing, which led to new ways of thinking, acting, and organizing in scribal societies and vastly extended human influence globally. We consider the impact of the printing press in Europe, the Middle East, China, and Korea that led to various ways of thinking and organizing in modern societies, and conclude our historical survey with a discussion of the emergence and impact of electric and electronic communication technologies from the nineteenth century to the present.
After a brief overview of what “futures studies” is and is not, based on our extensive experience in the field, we present four generic alternative futures, and discuss a prototype of a hybrid, mixed-reality game designed to enable players to experience the power and potential of new communication technologies within four very different environments and conditions. We think you will be intrigued by our surprising findings and what they may mean for future generations!
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications by Aubrey Yee
Drafts by Aubrey Yee