Safety Last

Simon Jensen

Would more creative applications in software be unleashed if we didn’t start by saddling designers and developers with privacy and security concerns? I propose a “Safety Last” approach to software development.

http://marqvard.com/

Description

Despite our supposed concerns that private data is collected and used by third parties, we willingly agree to provide personal information in exchange for online utilities: email, calendars, social media and e-commerce. “Safety Last” is a series of software applications exploring the possibilities that might emerge if we intentionally sacrifice computer privacy and safety.
The project explores what software might look like if we removed a current main principle in software development: that is, the assumption that software should be safe. The applications derived from this project are built-out thought experiments that suggest a different approach to exploring digital interactions and privacy. “Safety Last” consists of a file sharing application called “Open Desktop” and two remote control projects “Participate” and “Notify”. All the projects are intended to have a useful functionality to them which plays out against the control the user must sacrifice in order to use them.

Classes

Thesis

Thesis Presentation Video