Evolving from passive, data-collecting machines, environmental sensors now form ‘intelligent’ systems. Sensing has spread from its origins in Science and Technology Studies, to citizen science projects and into our homes. Through participatory science, environmental sensors can be used to democratise data collection and allow for agency and action within sensed systems. They create ‘crowd-sourced’ data sets that become invaluable to scientists and local government. But what does this mean in the home? These sensors work quietly in the background keeping the modern home running efficiently, they breathe life into the supposed benign brick and mortar that houses them. What we have explored is the use of environmental sensors in the home as a form of personal governance and resistance to the volatile and changing climate of the Anthropocene.

 

The proposed objects have been situated in the universe of US hit TV show Friends; in doing this, we propose a new eleventh season of the show in which the characters struggle living on a damaged planet. The way in which the characters and sets interact with designed sensing objects is how we have explored some ‘successes’ and ‘failures’ of the objects and the situations they bring about. What we are presenting is a season 11 trailer, pilot episode script with a recorded table reading, a storyboard and a prop list. 

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The project uses Friends as a way to engage with a ‘world’ and design setting that includes the use of various energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies while contending with social distancing and remote work due to Covid-19. 

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This project expanded my design research and collaboration skills; rapid ideation and concept testing allowed for a redesigned workbook of participatory device proposals.

 

Please begin by watching the trailer, taking a look at the storyboard and prop list, then watch the table read and follow along with the script. Whilst we have written a script only for the pilot episode, we propose multiple objects that don’t feature but could be the beginnings of new narratives and future episodes.