Future Studies interview by Nicole de Bie and Rienke Bos

The theme of the research is the social live between products and humans in 2030.
With the social live we mean:

• More sense interaction with products (made possible by technical innovations)

• A longer relationship with a product (because they are getting a longer life span)

• A give and take relationship with your product. This you do by giving the product your energy and attention. For example you give your product energy and for the energy in return the product gives you its functioning.

Interview met Allard Roeterink

1: How do you think the sense interaction between human and products will be in 2030?

• In the future the products will attend more senses, other senses then the ones we automatically think of and/or use. Example: The mouse and keyboard of a computer are used by hands. In the future other senses will be used, perhaps voice controls systems.

• The products will be enriched a lot. Designers will loosen up the designs or they will think differently about their designs. They are not so stuck anymore on the given facts. For example: Food was a very normal thing, now with food design it becomes a whole experience.

• Self-educated products. You buy stupid/empty products and by using them they are going to understand and anticipate. They learn and they are being corrected (if necessary) they will become more faithful.

These things will al happen because of a changing focus of the designer and users, accompanied by technical innovations.

2: Do the products get a longer life span or will we keep living in this throw away lifestyle?

• The packaging will be more intelligent. Some products will get a longer life while other products will get a shorter life. For example a self educated product will get a longer life span and humans will get more attached to the product. Some other products only have one function, when the function is for filled there is no more need for the product; it will have a short life span.

3: Do we (humans) get a more social connection with our products in the future?

• With a very few products it can happen but this will be a very small selection. A self educated product can change into a very loyal and personal product.

• The wearing out process or aging of a product can also create a personal connection with the product. You have a history together. The product becomes older and is a bit worn out but that makes it even more part of your life because of what you went through together. For example: The more scratches your car has the tougher it looks. The car is not so clean anymore but it has its own unique life story. This applies to a lot of products.

4: Is it possible for us to build up a give & take relationship with a product?

Yes, it is a possibility, but it is one of many!