Lab Rat?
This
project aims to explore how products might start abusing the consumer in a data
driven capitalist future. Exploring the potential infrastructure needed, how it
will be monetised as well as archetypes of how normally unintrusive technology
could become intrusive in the pursuit to make money. Would we be in control or
just be turned in to lab rats?
Inspired by
speculative design and the recent awareness of data protection. This project
turns the idea of protecting your data on its head and shows what might happen
if we get in control of our data and the possible impacted if this is led by corporations
rather than the consumer.
With
influences pushing get rich quick schemes will they inadvertently abuse the
most desperate vulnerable members of society.
Posters
show a small glimpse into the counter-culture, protests, and demonisation of
this technology by victims.
Rather than
a free market (such as eBay) if it’s controlled by corporations it would more
likely mirror the structure of a traditional stock market, with the price
increasing with the scarcity of data. Creating a competitive marketplace which
is on the side of the corporations.
