Speculations in anthropology
and tech for an uncertain future
Roelof Pieters

roelof@sunshinelab.com
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
@graphific 

roelofpieters
@graphific 

roelofpieters
Anthropology
Computer Science 

AI

“hacking"
Mixed all the way &

[Product] Design
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
580 GtCO2
420 GtCO2
330* GtCO2
280* GtCO2
180* GtCO2
130* GtCO2
Data source: IPCC SR15

*: own linear projections from SR15
Remaining carbon budgets from 2018
for chance of avoiding 1.5C warming.
DOOM
HOPE
SO THERE'S
BUT THERE’S ALSO
Drawdown (“solutions")
Drinking water from sun & air graphene/perovskite solar cells

(sun & rain) (flexible/transparent) 
Multi spectral cells
Salt storage Kinetic storage
Redox flow batteries
Printed batteries
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
New Zealand
India
Switzerland
Ireland
Belgium United States Germany Canada
France United Kingdom
Colombia
EU
Pakistan
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
FUTURE

PROJECTIONS
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
to go!
6 MORE
to go!
5 MORE
1
billion
people without
access to
electricity
globally1
740
million
est. people
expected to gain
access to
electricity from
off-grid solar by
20225
~2+
billion
people without
access to
reliable
electricity
globally7
urces: 1 World Energy Outlook (IEA, 2018); 2 The Transformations of Power (Wood Mackenzie, 2017); 3 Energy Access Outlook (IEA, 2017); 4 Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape (SE4ALL, 2018); 5 O
hting Global, 2018); 6 Scaling Up Energy Access through Cross-sector Partnerships (PWC, 2013); 7Energy Poverty Factbook (AT Kearney, 2018)
400
million
people gained
access to
electricity from
off-grid solar
solutions from
2010-20173
$37
billion
USD est. annual
spend by low-
income
customers on
basic energy
needs globally6
pe
est.
new
conne
off-gr
grid so
2
$624
billion
USD est. total
capital outlay
required to
reach universal
energy access
by 20304
unequal access
expensive access
unreliable access
Results of survey of OGS companies on highest potential productive use appliances 

(Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2018, January 2018, 

International Finance Corporation, GOGLA, Lighting Global )

Results of survey of OGS companies on highest potential productive use appliances 

(Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2018, January 2018, 

International Finance Corporation, GOGLA, Lighting Global )

“market opportunities”
“investment opportunities”
“new markets”
“value stacking added services”
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Results of survey of OGS companies on highest potential productive use appliances 

(Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2018, January 2018, 

International Finance Corporation, GOGLA, Lighting Global )

Results of survey of OGS companies on highest potential productive use appliances 

(Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2018, January 2018, 

International Finance Corporation, GOGLA, Lighting Global )

If no one will…
DIY!
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
ref: IDEO
no more
SUSTAINABLE
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
https://www.designlife-cycle.com/apple-earpods
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
REAL
designing for?
SUSTAINABILITY
OPEN?
is it
#1
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
“Mesh Potato”, rowetel.com
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
https://wiki.opensourceecology.de
https://wiki.opensourceecology.de
https://openenergymonitor.org
https://www.opensourceecology.org/
https://www.sci-hub.tw
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
EASY?
can we make it
#2
to start?
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
SIMPLE?
can we keep it
#3
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher 1973
Joshua Pearce 2011
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
TOGETHER?
can we make it
#4
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
(images: courtesy of Waag FabLab)
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
THOUGHTFUL?
can we be
#5
WHOLE
EARTH
designing for the
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
“Life-centric”
Life Centred Design: contributing to all living systems in a
way that not only “does no harm” but actively helps them
survive and thrive.

— Cassie Robinson, Beyond human-centred design, to?

More-than-human centred Design: “growing in a new way
where we add health and vitality to the places that we all
share.”

— John Thackara, Good Growth
Life I claim that this quality is not merely the
basis for a distinction between beautiful things
and ugly things. It is something which is
detectable as a subtle distinction, in every
corner of the world, as we walk about, in the
most ordinary places, during the most ordinary
events. It is a quality which changes from place
to place and from moment to moment, and
which marks, in varying degrees, every
moment, every event, every point in space.



— Christopher Alexander, The Nature of Order
vol I: The Phenomenon of Life
fairphone.com
https://www.fairphone.com/en/impact/source-map-transparency/
MODULAR?
Is it
#6
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Cardboard CNC, James Coleman, Nadya Peek
, https://archive.monograph.io/james/m-mtm,
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Universal Construction Kit, 2012, Golan Levin and Shawn Sims

http://flong.com/projects/free-universal-construction-kit/
LOCALLY?
can we produce it
#7
(left image: courtesy of OpenDesk)
Open Fabrication
(left image: courtesy of OpenDesk)
Open Fabrication
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Fablab Iceland Fablab Aalto
Fablab Kenya Fablab India
REUSE
Can we
#8
it?
RepRapable Recyclebot,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067218300208
Solar powered 3d printer

https://www.academia.edu/20326034/

High-Efficiency_Solar-Powered_3-D_Printers_for_Sustainable_Development
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
AFFORDABLE?
Is it
#9
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
http://opensourcelowtech.org/wind_turbine.html
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
$300 $30 $2-5
SUSTAINABILITY
COST
EMPOWER
Does it
#10
the community?
https://freifunk.net/
https://www.muv2020.eu/
https://waag.org/en/project/making-sense
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
AI?
does it do
(#11)
No it doesn’t…
“There are no computer models, no satellites,
no radars, no hockey stick graphs that can
help us chart our way toward the kind of
civilisations we urgently need to build.
We have to do that work together.”


 — @EricHolthaus
A manifesto for open making
1. open (“free")
2. easy to start (low barriers)
3. simple (low-tech!)
4. together / collective / playful
5. thoughtful / life-centric
6. modular / remixable
7. locally producible
8. reusable / circular / recyclable / sustainable
9. affordable / appropriate
10.community oriented empowerment
Design should be:
SOME
EXPERIMENTS
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future
A manifesto for open making
1. open
2. easy to start
3. simple / “low tech"
4. together
5. thoughtful / “life-full”
6. modular & remixable
7. locally producible
8. reusable and recyclable
9. affordable & appropriate
10.community & empowerment
Design should be:
√
√
?
√
√
√
√
?
?
?
√√
√
√
GreenSolutions
• Open Source
• Collaborative
• Decentralised Design
• Local Manufacturing
A Public Repository and Community

For Open Sustainable Design
http://greensolutions.cc 

Sign up for the mailing list for updates / help out!
Roelof Pieters

roelof@sunshinelab.com
When: Tomorrow 4 Oct
Time: 9:00-15:00*

Where: TBD

Who: anyone who wants 

to come, meet, talk, 

mingle
unconference = participant-driven meetings, sessions, workshops: creates
space for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration and creativity.
A Get-together for

Climate Unconference
Sign up at greensolutions.cc and we’ll send you
the address this evening :)
Tnx for listening!

More Related Content

ODP
Makers, IoT, Third Industrial Revolution and (im)Precision Agriculture
PDF
What smartphones teach us about the radical future of technology, business, ...
PDF
How do you envision the city of the future
PDF
How do you envision the city of the future
PPTX
Ai4 good 20190419 v3
PDF
20180517 OracleCode Singapore Keynote
PDF
Marketplace Innovation Report | Q4, 2015
PPTX
Cogswell college 20200120 v8 copy
Makers, IoT, Third Industrial Revolution and (im)Precision Agriculture
What smartphones teach us about the radical future of technology, business, ...
How do you envision the city of the future
How do you envision the city of the future
Ai4 good 20190419 v3
20180517 OracleCode Singapore Keynote
Marketplace Innovation Report | Q4, 2015
Cogswell college 20200120 v8 copy

Similar to Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future (20)

PDF
Disruptive Healthcare Business Models and UID : Kapil Khandelwal, www.kapilkh...
PPTX
Future of ai 20190612 v1
PDF
Mechanical_Engineering_Portfolio_2016_6_16
PPTX
Saving the World with IoT
PDF
WET BOT (Cleaning Robot)
PPTX
Google glass final pragentation
PDF
Fifth Edition Architecture Week @Gothenburg 141009
PDF
How to Beat Silicon Valley - TechSauce Bangkok 2017
PPTX
Inventions that changed the world
PDF
Ensuring a positive reception for Augmented Reality
PPTX
Technology
PDF
Microsoft Tests a Renewable Energy-Powered Data Center at the Bottom of the O...
PPTX
Future of ai 20180719 v9
PPTX
Spohrer Terraces 20230711 v17.pptx
PPTX
PPTX
Nottingham IoT - Saving the world with IoT
PDF
Investing In Deep Tech
 
PPT
SXSW 2008 - "10 Ways to Green-ifyYour Digital Life"
PPTX
Ert 20200420 v11
PDF
Investing In Deep Tech Seed Stage
 
Disruptive Healthcare Business Models and UID : Kapil Khandelwal, www.kapilkh...
Future of ai 20190612 v1
Mechanical_Engineering_Portfolio_2016_6_16
Saving the World with IoT
WET BOT (Cleaning Robot)
Google glass final pragentation
Fifth Edition Architecture Week @Gothenburg 141009
How to Beat Silicon Valley - TechSauce Bangkok 2017
Inventions that changed the world
Ensuring a positive reception for Augmented Reality
Technology
Microsoft Tests a Renewable Energy-Powered Data Center at the Bottom of the O...
Future of ai 20180719 v9
Spohrer Terraces 20230711 v17.pptx
Nottingham IoT - Saving the world with IoT
Investing In Deep Tech
 
SXSW 2008 - "10 Ways to Green-ifyYour Digital Life"
Ert 20200420 v11
Investing In Deep Tech Seed Stage
 
Ad

More from Roelof Pieters (20)

PDF
AI assisted creativity
PDF
Creativity and AI: 
Deep Neural Nets "Going Wild"
PDF
Deep Neural Networks 
that talk (Back)… with style
PDF
Building a Deep Learning (Dream) Machine
PDF
Multi-modal embeddings: from discriminative to generative models and creative ai
PDF
Deep learning for natural language embeddings
PDF
Multi modal retrieval and generation with deep distributed models
PDF
Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing: Word Embeddings
PDF
Creative AI & multimodality: looking ahead
PDF
Python for Image Understanding: Deep Learning with Convolutional Neural Nets
PDF
Explore Data: Data Science + Visualization
PDF
Deep Learning as a Cat/Dog Detector
PDF
Deep Learning for Information Retrieval
PDF
Graph, Data-science, and Deep Learning
PDF
Deep Learning: a birds eye view
PDF
Learning to understand phrases by embedding the dictionary
PDF
Zero shot learning through cross-modal transfer
PDF
Visual-Semantic Embeddings: some thoughts on Language
PDF
Deep Learning, an interactive introduction for NLP-ers
PDF
Deep Learning for NLP: An Introduction to Neural Word Embeddings
AI assisted creativity
Creativity and AI: 
Deep Neural Nets "Going Wild"
Deep Neural Networks 
that talk (Back)… with style
Building a Deep Learning (Dream) Machine
Multi-modal embeddings: from discriminative to generative models and creative ai
Deep learning for natural language embeddings
Multi modal retrieval and generation with deep distributed models
Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing: Word Embeddings
Creative AI & multimodality: looking ahead
Python for Image Understanding: Deep Learning with Convolutional Neural Nets
Explore Data: Data Science + Visualization
Deep Learning as a Cat/Dog Detector
Deep Learning for Information Retrieval
Graph, Data-science, and Deep Learning
Deep Learning: a birds eye view
Learning to understand phrases by embedding the dictionary
Zero shot learning through cross-modal transfer
Visual-Semantic Embeddings: some thoughts on Language
Deep Learning, an interactive introduction for NLP-ers
Deep Learning for NLP: An Introduction to Neural Word Embeddings
Ad

Recently uploaded (20)

DOCX
Action plan to easily understanding okey
PPTX
PurpoaiveCommunication for students 02.pptx
PPTX
NORMAN_RESEARCH_PRESENTATION.in education
DOCX
CLASS XII bbbbbnjhcvfyfhfyfyhPROJECT.docx
PPTX
CAPE CARIBBEAN STUDIES- Integration-1.pptx
PPTX
Phylogeny and disease transmission of Dipteran Fly (ppt).pptx
PPTX
Knowledge Knockout ( General Knowledge Quiz )
PPTX
Research Process - Research Methods course
PPTX
FINAL TEST 3C_OCTAVIA RAMADHANI SANTOSO-1.pptx
DOC
EVC毕业证学历认证,北密歇根大学毕业证留学硕士毕业证
PDF
5_tips_to_become_a_Presentation_Jedi_@itseugenec.pdf
PDF
Unnecessary information is required for the
PDF
Module 7 guard mounting of security pers
PPTX
2025-08-17 Joseph 03 (shared slides).pptx
PPTX
CASEWORK Power Point Presentation - pointers
PPTX
Module_4_Updated_Presentation CORRUPTION AND GRAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES.pptx
PPT
Lessons from Presentation Zen_ how to craft your story visually
PDF
6.-propertise of noble gases, uses and isolation in noble gases
PPTX
Rakhi Presentation vbbrfferregergrgerg.pptx
PPTX
Lesson-7-Gas. -Exchange_074636.pptx
Action plan to easily understanding okey
PurpoaiveCommunication for students 02.pptx
NORMAN_RESEARCH_PRESENTATION.in education
CLASS XII bbbbbnjhcvfyfhfyfyhPROJECT.docx
CAPE CARIBBEAN STUDIES- Integration-1.pptx
Phylogeny and disease transmission of Dipteran Fly (ppt).pptx
Knowledge Knockout ( General Knowledge Quiz )
Research Process - Research Methods course
FINAL TEST 3C_OCTAVIA RAMADHANI SANTOSO-1.pptx
EVC毕业证学历认证,北密歇根大学毕业证留学硕士毕业证
5_tips_to_become_a_Presentation_Jedi_@itseugenec.pdf
Unnecessary information is required for the
Module 7 guard mounting of security pers
2025-08-17 Joseph 03 (shared slides).pptx
CASEWORK Power Point Presentation - pointers
Module_4_Updated_Presentation CORRUPTION AND GRAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES.pptx
Lessons from Presentation Zen_ how to craft your story visually
6.-propertise of noble gases, uses and isolation in noble gases
Rakhi Presentation vbbrfferregergrgerg.pptx
Lesson-7-Gas. -Exchange_074636.pptx

Speculations in anthropology and tech for an uncertain future