Back to the Future: Historical Encounters with Automation in Automotive Design and Technology

Chris Martin

April 2 Christopher Martin visited ISDD and gave a spotlight talk entitled “Back to the Future: Historical Encounters with Automation in Automotive Design and Technology”. Chris, who is is PhD student in Ethnology at Lund University, gave a historical overview of how autonomous driving has developed as an experience and expectation.

Drawing on some of his research for the upcoming doctoral thesis, Chris traced back several examples of how American automotive manufacturers and advertisers have introduced and portrayed new forms of design and technology and how these have contributed towards shaping people’s understanding of driving today. Finally, he discussed how established experiences and expectations might affect the driving public’s reception of new autonomous drive technology and the challenges, and opportunities, this might present.

TEXT: Magnus Bergquist
PHOTO: Vaike Fors

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