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At the seams: DIYbio and opportunities for HCI

Published: 11 June 2012 Publication History

Abstract

DIYbio (Do It Yourself Biology) aims to 'open source', tinker and experiment with biology outside of professional settings. In this paper, we present the origins, practices, and challenges of DIYbio initiatives around the world. Our findings depict DIYbio as operating across intersections ('seams') between a range of stakeholders, materials and concerns. To map out the role of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) across these seams, we present design exercises (functional prototypes) that explore three areas for future work: internal collaboration tools within the DIYbio and professional community; mechanisms for external communication with stakeholders from the general public; and bio-electronic assemblies of organic and digital materials. In doing so, we hope to critically re-envision the role of HCI at the emerging intersection of biology, computation and DIY.

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    DIS '12: Proceedings of the Designing Interactive Systems Conference
    June 2012
    828 pages
    ISBN:9781450312103
    DOI:10.1145/2317956
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    Published: 11 June 2012

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    Author Tags

    1. DIY
    2. DIYbio
    3. hybrid materials
    4. publics
    5. synthetic biology

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    DIS '12: Designing Interactive Systems Conference 2012
    June 11 - 15, 2012
    Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

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    • (2024)Theory and design in the biotechnical age: A schematic understanding of Bio Design and Synthetic Biology practiceThe Design Journal10.1080/14606925.2024.238191427:5(800-822)Online publication date: 2-Aug-2024
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