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Memorality the Future of Our Digital Selves

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Memorality the Future of Our Digital Selves Memorality The Future of Our Digital Selves Jess Myra, Master’s of Interaction Design Memorality: The Future of Our Digital Selves MFA Interaction Design , Umeå Institute of Design, May 2013 This thesis document is the result of a collaboration between myself, Jess Myra, an Interaction Design Master’s graduate, and a number of industry contributors. Predominately, Memorality Gian Pangaro, Design Director at IDEO, and Luke Woods, Product Design Manager, at Facebook. It is the result of the The Future of Our Digital Selves final thesis semester of the Master’s of Interaction Design program at the Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden. The 20 week Master’s Thesis course was supervised by Kent Lindbergh, Interaction Designer, at the Interactive Institute. It extended from January 28th-May 31st, 2013. Typeset in Requiem, 11pt Roman. Collaborators Support & Guidance Academic Supervisor Niklas Andersson Program Director Academic Advisor Kent Lindbergh Interaction Designer Industry Collaborator Luke Woods Product Design Manager Industry Collaborator Gian Pangaro Design Director Supplemental Contributors Richard Banks Principal Interaction Designer humlab Patrik Svensson Research Manager Table of Contents The Future of Our Digital Selves Designer’s Note i Survey Results 21 Reflections 63 Survey Conclusions 21 Introduction iii Problem Analysis 24 References 67 Abstract iii Conclusions 27 Topic Overview iv Appendices Project Timeline vi Early Concepts 31 I Journey to the Topic 73 Tangible Testing 31 II Thesis Questions 77 Design Goals vii Legacy Book 32 III Survey Responses 81 Fading Frame 34 IV Survey Questions 91 Research Overview 1 Life Cards 34 V User Interface 97 Tangible 2 IOU Tokens 36 Digital 2 Soul Stroll 37 Analogous 3 Tangible Conclusions 38 Aesthetics 3 Stages of Dig. Afterlife 39 Communication Tools 4 Visual Metaphors 41 Early Problem Analysis 4 Digital Concept 43 Early Conclusions 5 Digital Conclusions 45 Research Part II 11 Final Concept 51 Native Totem Poles 12 Kindred Connections 52 Vodou Spiritual Comm. 13 System Overview 53 Postage Age Messaging 15 Connection Key 56 Icelandic Sagas 16 Interface Anatomy 58 Interaction 13 Conference 17 Legacy Use Case 60 Can we plan to maintain a Legacy, presence within our digital content to communicate across our social afterlife, & network after we die? How can we be stewards for our post-life digital remembering… selves? Is that even what we want? Designer’s Note Project Stakeholders I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who worked together to make this project possible. First and foremost, thanks to Gian Pangaro and Luke Woods for their guidance. It was because of their flexibility and professional wisdom that I was able to further extend the value of this educational journey to reflect on my project process at regular intervals. Secondly, remote conversations with Richard Banks were invaluable to inject fresh perspective from the field of digital humanities. Further, the openness and contribution from the professionals, family, and social network of peers that contributed allowed me to go deep in research. With their input I was able to achieve a level of understanding of digital legacies across generations and the world. I am grateful for all of the personal stories and moments shared. Not to be forgotten, my academic advisor Kent Lindbergh who provided confidence and support as I navigated through the process. Lastly, to my peers and staff at the Umeå Institute of Design for continuous thought provoking mo- ments of reflection and shared sources of inspiration. MEMORALITY: THE FUTURE OF OUR DIGITAL SELVES | 2013 i Introduction Physical Death & Digital Life In this increasingly digital world, is it intentional that we only plan for the future of our physical selves? If not, then how can we sustain a residual presence after we are gone— if that’s even what we want? How can we have a legacy that will matter to future generations? Abstract Digital Immortality or Not? The aim of this thesis was to explore how we might be stew- ards for our post-life digital self after physical death, and to provide a new interaction experience in the form of a tan- gible, digital, or service design solution. Prior to the project kick-off secondary research, including academic research papers, analogous services, and existing projects, was distilled to form topical questions. These ques- tions were then presented in many casual topical conversa- tions and revealed that although post-life digital asset man- agement awareness is increasing, little consideration exists on how to reflect legacies into the future long after death. MEMORALITY: THE FUTURE OF OUR DIGITAL SELVES | 2013 iii 1See the Appendix I on page 73 for de- A second stage of primary research included multiple on- individual—think pyramids to gravestones. In modern tails on how the thesis topic developed site investigations, paired with in-person interviews and a times, we continue to try and connect with those around us, over time. quantitative online survey. Insights and understandings then only our channels of communication have shifted; we are lead to initial concepts that were tested to address distinc- transitioning towards digital methods of connecting and tive qualities between tangible and digital design solutions. content management. The main findings included that although people want to be remembered long after they die, current methods of tangible Further, current tools for digital memento and archive man- and digital content management can not sufficiently support agement are not intended to function for post-life commu- the reflection of legacies long into the future. nications. They do not sufficiently consider the longevity of content, digital legacies, or relevancy of content over time. In conclusion, this thesis argues that to become part of an everlasting legacy, the interaction experience can leverage Present research and services exist around the management commonalities and shared moments from life events cap- of digital assets after death, and how to remember or stay tured in digital media. These points of connections rely on connected with those that knew them in life. However, the associated metadata (i.e. keyword tags, date stamps, geo- solutions presented are often static archives of content or location) to align relevant moments that transcend time algorithm supported services that auto-post on behalf of the and generations. The solution proposed here harnesses the deceased to those people they knew in life. benefits that both digital and tangible media afford and are presented as a tablet interface with an associated tangible Spanning preliminary investigations and project develop- token used as a connection key. ment, it is apparent that little exploration exists on the im- plications of the future of digital content long after physical Topic Overview death. Specifically, it gets exponentially more challenging to Everlasting Legacies retain a legacy after those that knew us in life also die. As we continue to transition into digital lifestyles, we have to acknowledge the potential value and intent of our pro- The compulsion to capture our lives for posthumous remem- longed content as it relates to -time.1 brance, thanatography, has been titled ‘thanatosensitivity’ as a new approach to human-computer interaction research in post-life digital humanities. Although, my thesis will present Although, many aspects of humanities have changed over findings within the scope of this fundamental research, it the generations, fundamental needs remain as we strive to does not directly incorporate the novel nomenclature. capture our own legacies and to participate and identify in family and cultural legacies. In human history, there has always been a desire to leave a legacy and be remembered. This happens at vari- ous scales whether as a civilization, culture, family, or iv MEMORALITY: THE FUTURE OF OUR DIGITAL SELVES | 2013 MEMORALITY: THE FUTURE OF OUR DIGITAL SELVES | 2013 v Research Synthesize & Ideate Jan. 28th-Feb. 22nd Feb. 25th-Mar. 15th Museum visits Brainstorming Design ethnography Early Concept Testing User research Rapid-prototyping Analogous research Online Evaluation Design Goals Contextual interviews Visual frameworks Designing a Digital Afterlife Online Survey This thesis presents insights on designing interactions for digital immortality after physical death, and will focus on Prototype & Evaluate Refine & Test points of interactions with the digital archive for those that Mar. 18th-Apr. 12th Apr. 15th-May… remain alive. Physical mock-ups Refinement The goal of this project is to create an interaction experience to address digital immortality and the future of our digital Digital prototypes High-fidelity mock-ups selves. It will result in a prototype (i.e. digital, physical, service, or a combination), a thesis paper, defense, and public User testing Usability tests exhibition ending in June, 2013. Storytelling Final mock-ups As part of this project, I hope to further explore and find new direction in the research space of post-life digital User scenarios Digital Thesis Book presence. To continue, I would like this project to serve as a point of reflection for people regarding the longevity of digital content after death. Also, I hope to further develop my skills in digital asset production, and communication of the result—specifically in storytelling the proposed solution. MEMORALITY: THE FUTURE OF OUR DIGITAL SELVES | 2013 vii “Five years ago I sent my future self Time, memory,
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