Exploring the consequences of emotional data

By Simen Bergsnov Lorentzen, Bendik Ola Hauge Vestre

The project investigates how accurate emotional data would impact individuals and society. We ask the question: “how can we prepare future designers to use emotional data as a material?”

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Project type
Diploma project
Programme
Design
Year
2022

Supervisor:

Jonathan Romm
Simon David Clatworthy

Our learnings from developing exploratory concepts are summarized in a set of principles for using emotional data, presented on a website.

The principles are meant to inform future work using emotional data as a material, and are designed to be actionable, and written i a way that makes actors who claim to follow them accountable.

Each principle is joined by “practices”; examples from concept work meant to further examplify how the principles can impact a project. The website will evolve in tandem with the technology developing, and when the technology eventually exists, take on a more reviewing role, looking at how real world examples apply accurate emotional data.

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Experiential trial: ”Emotional facts robot”

Our approach in this project has been that going deep into different contexts will offer more valuable insight on future technology, than a purely system level approach. We made three exploratory concepts: A mental health app, content recommendation, and targeted ads, as well as a number of experiential trials.

When discussing accurate emotional data, and weighing the positives versus the negatives, most will agree that implementing such a technology might not be a good idea. But:

Technological development will not follow a moral compass, and we need to be ready.

Want to see the full website? Check out the figma prototype here.


Contact

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Bendik Ola Hauge Vestre / bendikvestre@gmail.com

Simen Bergsnov Lorentzen / simen@o57.no 

Published Jan. 3, 2022 8:16 PM - Last modified Mar. 19, 2025 5:05 PM