Human Body Interaction From the Imaginary to Contemporaneity. Anticipation Design Processes

Abstract

Interfaces and prostheses, whether physical, visual, or virtual, are more and more characterized by an ever-increasing level of complexity. In this designing scenario, the relationship with cognitive sciences, ergonomics, semiotics, and the contribution of enabling technologies is transforming the field of product design into that of the design of complex systems that interface the relationship between human and machine. This paper, starting from the analysis of fiction, scientific literature, and state of the art, analyses the imaginary vision of man-cyborg and the transformation of his body by integrating and becoming dependent on technology to open a debate on a new design relationship between the body and digital artifacts. A new scenario focuses on re-discovering the human body as a design field, paving the way towards a post-human area of application in which artifact and prosthesis are balanced. The research tries to address the transformation of the relationship between the human and the machine through the evolution of Key Enabling Technologies.