🎃 Valiukas

mediation theory

The theory of (technological) mediation is a framework to understand the interaction between technology and people. It puts technological artefacts in-between people and the world, and alters their relationship. I have heard about mediation from 🍂Peter-Paul Verbeek first, although it has its roots in the post-phenomenology from Don Ihde, who defined the first types of relations.

Types of relations

Different types of mediation relationships have been identified by Don Ihde and Peter-Paul Verbeek.

📞 Embodiment relationship

The unity of the human being and the technology is directed at the world:

Schematically
(I - Technology) -> World
Example
Speaking with other people through the phone.

📖 Hermeneutic relationship

Human beings read how technologies represent the world:

Schematically
I -> (Technology - World)
Example
MRI scan represents brain activity.

⛰ Alterity relationship

Human beings interact with technologies, with the world in the background:

Schematically
I -> Technology (World)
Example
Getting money from an ATM.

🖼 Background relationship

Technologies are the context for human experiences:

Schematically
Human (Technology / World)
Example
Sounds of air conditioners and fridges.

🤖 Fusion (cyborg) relationship

Added by PP Verbeek; Technologies merge with our physical body:

Schematically
(I / Technology) -> World
Example
Artificial heart valves and pacemakers.

💻 Immersion relationship

Added by PP Verbeek; The relation between human beings and that hybrid environment is interactive:

Schematically
I <-> Technology/World
Example
'smart beds' in hospitals that can detect if somebody falls out of bed or steps out of bed.

👓 Augmentation relationship

Added by PP Verbeek; In addition to the sensory relation we have with the world 'through' an augmented reality technology, we have a relation to the information it gives us (embodiment relation + hermeneutic relation):

Schematically
(I - Technology) -> World -> (Technology - World)
Example
Google Glass.