Overview
We’re surrounded by technology that functions as extensions of our bodies, but this technology is still in its infancy. Devise a technology of the (distant) future that transforms the human experience in a significant way. You might start with an idea about text messaging with your brain, but explore even deeper science fiction terrain to imagine, for example, transmitting human emotion from one body to the next. While you have free reign to explore any posthuman technologies you can imagine, you might think about these possibilities in the three categories we will explore this term: robots, time travel, and bodily transformations. I strongly encourage you to collaborate with one or two partners on this project, but you may also choose to work alone. In addition to submitting a multimodal artifact that communicates your invention (such as a digital poster, interactive essay, or video), you will also individually submit a written reflection on the project itself.
The Rhetorical Situation
You have already brainstormed ideas for your invention. Next you need to determine the rhetorical situation. Who is your audience? What is your purpose? What is the context? Use one of the following rhetorical situations as inspiration for your own:
1. You are a scientist, much like Victor Frankenstein, whose experiment has gone awry and has pushed you to the verge of death. Before you die, you must confess your tale of hope, discovery, and ruin. Who are you and who do you live among? What are your dreams, fears, ethics, and morals? How did your invention come about?
2. You are an entrepreneur with a vision. But you lack support. Write a grant proposal to investors to convince them to support the research and development of your invention. Describe the problem, solution, methods, and projected outcomes. Perform a market analysis: Who is the audience for this invention? What need does it fulfill? How will it turn a profit?
Contexts
One aspect of the rhetorical situation to pay special attention to is context.
1. Provide historical context. Why and how is your invention appropriate to these current times? Was there ever a need for this invention before (i.e. in the nineteenth century)? Is it possible someone could have dreamed up this idea in an earlier era?
2. Provide social context. Consider what social conditions inspire your invention, what uses and abuses may arise from the use of your invention, and how your invention could impact social culture.
3. Provide scientific context. What similar abilities are our bodies already capable of prior to implementing your invention? What useful technologies already exist?
Modalities
You will submit a blog post that contains the text of your invention (@1000 words). You will also need to create a visual aid that communicates your narrative / invention.