ProductImpactTool.org

above-the-head (abstract)

What is the influence of technology on humans, in a general sense? The above-the-head quadrant comprises general ideas about the relationship between humans and technology. A summary of philosophical thinking about technology shows a progression of three grand visions.

The exemplary effects are utopian technology, dystopian technology, and ambivalent technology.

These ideas are general and abstract; there is no tangible point of contact. The are not so much concepts that can be applied in design. However these ideas often figure in controversies about technology. This quadrant is helpful for ethical reflection and discussion.