Emerging technologies open up exciting possibilities for how our lives might positively change in the coming decades. Back in the 1990s, pioneering researcher Mark Weiser envisioned a future where technologies would integrate seamlessly into our everyday environments to assist us - what he called "ubiquitous computing." This vision of quiet, helpful computing in the background laid important groundwork for the ecosystems of smart devices we use today. As digital capabilities become more embedded in our surroundings and autonomous, researchers like Steve Mann explore how technology might progressively blend with our identity and sense of self. These radical ideas suggest a shift may be ahead in how closely intertwined humans and computers could become. Envisioning future human-computer relationships requires thoughtfully considering wider social impacts. Responsible innovation frameworks encourage designers to align technological possibilities with social good. Some researchers propose design approaches that embed ethical perspectives into the creative process itself, rather than just evaluating the final output. By speculating on emerging trends like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and brain-computing interfaces, we get glimpses of how technology might transform lifestyles ahead. Most crucially, this future-gaze mobilizes technology designers to intentionally shape supportive partnerships between people and smart machines still in development. With care and wisdom, we can craft technological advances that enrich our shared humanity.

Julian Bleecker, Nick Foster, Fabien Girardin, Nicolas Nova, Near Future Laboratory, Chris Frey, Patrick Pittman · 01/01/2022
"The Manual of Design Fiction" by Julian Bleecker et al. is a 2022 work that serves as a comprehensive guide to the field of Design Fiction. Though not strictly in the HCI domain, it has crucial implications for those interested in speculating about future technologies and user interactions. The manual situates itself within the intersection of design, storytelling, and future-casting.
Impact and Limitations: The book offers a novel way to think about design, especially in the context of emerging technologies and ethical implications. However, the application of design fiction can be time-consuming and may not offer immediate, pragmatic solutions, pointing towards a need for further work on how to integrate this effectively into traditional HCI methods.

James Auger · 01/03/2013
"Speculative Design: Crafting the Speculation" delves into the realm of speculative design, offering a nuanced look at how to navigate the fuzzy borders between fiction and design. It argues that success in speculative design hinges on the meticulous handling of several key aspects.
Impact and Limitations: The paper contributes to the broader dialogue about the role and methods of speculative design. It underscores the need for a fine-tuned approach to speculation, although it leaves open the question of standardizing these methods.

Anthony Dunne, Fiona Raby · 01/01/2013
"Speculative Everything" challenges the boundaries of conventional design by introducing the concept of speculative design, a discipline that merges design, fiction, and social critique. The book diverges from traditional HCI approaches that focus on problem-solving and efficiency, advocating instead for design as a tool for exploring future scenarios and questioning societal norms.
Impact and Limitations: "Speculative Everything" has reshaped discussions around the purpose and impact of design, extending its influence beyond HCI to ethics, policy, and art. However, the speculative approach may lack immediate applicability, and its effectiveness in driving real-world change remains an open question.

Susan Yelavich, Barbara Adams · 01/11/2014
"Design as Future-Making," edited by Susan Yelavich and Barbara Adams, is a seminal text that reframes the discipline of design from merely solving present issues to actively shaping the future. It aligns with the broader scope of HCI by encouraging interdisciplinary efforts to imagine and construct futures, thus expanding the possibilities of human-computer interaction.
Impact and Limitations: "Design as Future-Making" has far-reaching implications for HCI, as it shifts the focus towards proactive and ethical design, challenging the field to be more future-oriented. However, the book could be criticized for lacking a comprehensive framework to implement its ambitious vision, thus requiring further research and practical applications to validate its claims.