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Open-Source Empathy: Humans as Dynamic Systems

#sxsw #osempathy

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Human beings are advanced dynamic systems. Each of us interfaces with our emotions differently. Consequently, we interface with each other in desirable and undesirable ways through various access points. My process throughout the development of the case studies shared in this panel, the interaction of others with the projects, and the results of my facilitations reveal patterns in the resistance to interpersonal connection. By considering the parallels between the uncertainty of human connection and the way that dynamic media systems work, I’d like to share my findings on what it means to be human. Toby Bottorf of design and innovation firm, Continuum, proposes that, “one way to aim for more surprising work is to include more disciplines as influences and sources of inspiration.” This panel offers that by using the psychoanalytic technique to objectify one’s subjective experience, designers can better understand themselves, their users, their medium and the ways in which they connect.

Presenters

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Daniel Buckley Design Researcher Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Daniel James Buckley is an experience designer, researcher, and builder who lives in Boston, MA. He earned his BFA in graphic design and animation from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and his MFA from the Dynamic Media Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. At DMI Daniel's work focused on designing public installations that facilitated the sharing of one’s vulnerabilities publicly in order to foster more empathic connection between members of a community.

Before his tenure at DMI, he practiced interaction design, game design and animation in the children's interactive department at WGBH Educational Foundation in Boston, PBS's largest content provider. During his time at WGBH Daniel was nominated for an Emmy by the Academy of Arts and Sciences and his work on PBS's Design Squad Nation, a social platform for kids to collaborate on engineering projects, won the award for New Approaches in Children's Programming.

Having completed his thesis work in the summer of 2012, Daniel now focuses on running a design research consultancy named Skeptic.al, a collaborative of researchers, educators, designers, coders and builders, of which their primary focus is to question the state of the art.