Research Incubator: Visions for the future
How do people imagine the combination of digital transformation and sustainability in the future? In a research project, we use drawings to get to the bottom of this question.
In a world characterised by extreme weather events and digital networking, sustainable living is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, digitalisation is having a profound impact on the environment. Against this backdrop, studies emphasise the need to combine digital transformation with sustainability goals.
The challenge lies in shaping the digital transformation in such a way that it harmonises with ecological and social goals. At the same time, people’s perspectives must be included in order to promote acceptance and innovation. So far, however, there has been no research dedicated to these perspectives on digital transformation and sustainability.
We therefore ask: How do people imagine the combination of digital transformation and sustainability in the future?
With this question, we refer to research on so-called socio-technical imaginaries. According to Jasanoff (2015), these are defined as “collectively held, institutionally stabilised, and publicly performed visions of desirable futures, animated by shared understandings of forms of social life and social order attainable through, and supportive of, advances in science and technology” (p. 6).
Our research fills a gap by offering nuanced insights into visions of a future in which digital transformation is linked to sustainable development.
The visualisation of the entire topic identification process can be found in this video.
How did we do our research?
In the summer of 2023, we asked people to draw their visions for the future during a music festival. The study was organised as an open workshop. Each participant received a blank A3 sheet with a questionnaire on the back and various drawing materials such as pens, watercolours and glitter pens. This visual method helps to better understand emotional and symbolic levels. Drawing also encourages people to analyse their own images of the future. This makes visual and emotional levels of meaning visible and analysable (Freeman & Mathison, 2009).
A total of 109 people between the ages of 6 and 42 (M=28.94, SD=5.27) took part in the study; 58 people identified themselves as female, 42 as male and 6 as non-binary. The resulting 109 drawings form the basis for the data analysis.
Figure 1: Insight into the workshop setting
We analysed the drawings inductively, conducting thematic analyses to identify recurring themes, symbols and motifs. We looked at the visual elements of the drawings and searched for patterns that indicated common concerns, hopes and expectations. Based on this, six drawings were excluded as they did not relate to the theme.
Figure 2 provides an overview of the resulting thematic clusters.
Figure 2: Overview of the resulting clusters and subclusters. Overlaps and arrows indicate content-related or symbolic overlaps
Abstract and concrete presentations of the potentials and challenges of digital transformation
The drawings range from abstract representations to concrete illustrations. The main themes were the potential of renewable energy (see Figure 3) and increased efficiency through digitalisation, as well as the negative environmental impact of raw material consumption and server farms. Some images showed the benefits of digital administration and agriculture, while others emphasised the loss of contact with nature (see Figure 3) and dependence on digital devices.
Figure 3: A world without digitalisation
Figure 4: Environmentally friendly behaviour promoted by digitalisation
Another key topic was the social structure and the role of networking and communication. Here, visions of a more sustainable digital future through the use of natural models and collaborative networks were illustrated. Some participants also expressed concerns about the loss of contact with nature and increasing dependence on digital devices.
Different drawings also reflect both utopias (see Figure 3) and dystopias (see Figure 4) and invite reflection on the integration of ethical considerations into the development and use of digital technologies.
Figure 5. Utopia: AI Buddha
Figure 6: A world controlled by Elon Musk’s satellites
The needs of people should be taken into account
The imaginaries of the participants depicted in the images are rich in representations of how they imagine the integration of technology into everyday life and the natural environment. They show a wide range of expectations regarding the role of technology in society and reflect a diverse set of societal hopes, fears and critical perspectives.
The visions emphasise the need for a balanced approach to reconciling digital transformation and environmental sustainability that preserves individual freedoms and promotes a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Future research and policy-making should consider the perspectives of all people in order to develop and deploy digital technologies in a way that serves the well-being of society and the environment. Our findings provide valuable insights into society’s expectations for a sustainable digital future and help to develop resilient strategies for the challenges ahead.
Referenzen
Freeman, M., & Mathison, S. (2009). Researching Children’s Experiences. Guilford Publications.
Jasanoff, S. (2015). Future Imperfect: Science, Technology, and the Imaginations of Modernity. In S. Jasanoff & S.-H. Kim (Eds.), Dreamscapes of Modernity: Sociotechnical Imaginaries and the Fabrication of Power (p. 0). University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226276663.003.0001