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- One is for theoretical design research. Another is to refer to and explore new forms of human-computer interaction, which researchers increasingly think is shaped by science fiction books and films. Then there is the study of human body modification, which is perhaps best explored via the medium of fiction.
www.technologyreview.com/2018/04/05/67057/when-science-fiction-inspires-real-technology/
Oct 9, 2020 · A recent review found science fiction is increasingly used as source material for research with intentionally public relevance and consequences (Menadue & Cheer, 2017).
- Christopher Benjamin Menadue, Kristi Giselsson, David Guez
- 2020
Aug 3, 2017 · Two characteristics of the use of science fiction in research became evident in the review: its role as a tool for advocacy and cultural insight and its effectiveness as an aid to learning...
- Introduction
- The Application of Science Fiction
- An Entangled Relationship
- Worldbuilding
- Worldbuilding, Foresight, and Design
- Worldbuilding in Science Fiction
- Borrowing from Science Fiction
- Conclusion
- Notes
- References
Stories are powerful. A story “can be a way for humans to feel that we have control over the world. They allow people to see patterns where there is chaos, meaning where there is randomness. Humans are inclined to see narratives where there are none because they can afford meaning to our lives — a form of existential problem-solving” (Delistraty, 2...
Science fiction holds significant influence over technological innovation and scientific research. For instance, Jules Verne inspired the U.S. Navy’s first submarines and the modern helicopter (Tavakoli-Far, 2013). It was Arthur C. Clarke who first proposed using satellites for global communications in 1945 (Tweney, 2011). Everything from the desir...
At present, “the divide between science fiction and futures studies is neither necessary nor desirable. There is a long history of crossover between the two, with each positively influencing the other” (von Stackelberg & McDowell, 2015, p. 29). It was author H.G. Wells who first called for professors of foresight in 1932 (Wells in Slaughter, 1989, ...
Worldbuilding is the process of constructing a complete and plausible imaginary world that serves as a context for a story. It is “the creation of imaginary worlds with coherent geographic, social, cultural, and other features” (von Stackelberg & McDowell, 2015, p. 32). Worlds “provide detailed contextual rule sets that develop a larger reality tha...
The concept of worldbuilding is embedded within foresight and design practices, albeit to a different extent than it is in science fiction. Notable examples at this intersection include scenario generation, science fiction prototyping, experiential futures, and transition design. Scenario generation has its roots in storytelling. The “RAND Corporat...
In science fiction, worldbuilding is expansive and elaborate, and the outcome is often a high fidelity product such as a novel or film. Unlike foresight and design, which are strategic practices subject to real-world constraints (e.g. client objectives) and resources (e.g. time and money), the worlds of science fiction are a creative endeavor. A wo...
More recently, foresight practitioners and designers are leveraging worldbuilding in new ways. For instance, The Thing From the Future, created by Stuart Candy and Jeff Watson, is a game that prompts “thought-provoking descriptions of hypothetical objects from different near, medium, and long-term futures” (Situation Lab, n.d.). The game may “yield...
The concept of worldbuilding in science fiction marries elements of foresight and design, and offers opportunities to enrich both practices. By understanding the many ways in which science fiction is used throughout society and borrowing from its worldbuilding processes, we may harness new insights on how to design emotionally resonant futures that...
1. Speculative fiction “includes fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but also their derivatives, hybrids, and cognate genres like the gothic, dystopia, weird fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, ghost stories, superhero tales, alternate history, steampunk, slipstream, magic realism, fractured fairy tales, and more (Oziewicz, 2017). 2. Based on an a...
Anders, C. J. (2013, August 2). 7 deadly sins of worldbuilding. Gizmodo. Retrieved from http://io9.gizmodo.com/7-deadly-sins-of-worldbuilding-998817537 Bassett, C., Steinmueller, E., & Voss, G. (2013). Better Made Up: The Mutual Influence of Science fiction and Innovation. Nesta Working Paper No. 13/07. Retrieved from https://media.nesta.org.uk/doc...
Apr 5, 2018 · They found that researchers use science fiction in a variety of different ways. One is for theoretical design research. Another is to refer to and explore new forms of human-computer...
Aug 3, 2017 · Two characteristics of the use of science fiction in research became evident in the review: its role as a tool for advocacy and cultural insight and its effectiveness as an aid to learning and teaching.
- Christopher Benjamin Menadue, Karen Diane Cheer
- 2017
Jun 9, 2013 · “Science fiction can be thought of as a storytelling genre that creates prototypes of other worlds, other experiences, other contexts for life, all based on the creative insights of the author.” —Julian Bleecker, Design Fiction: From Props to Prototypes
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Apr 8, 2016 · Why do we read science fiction? The immediate answer for some is escapism: to enter into fantastic worlds that are more exciting than mundane reality. But that’s a simplistic answer that fails to explain why we’re drawn to science fiction, which, while speculative, often nods to realism and presents a thoughtful perspective on the future ...
