Locally Situated Digital Representation of Indigenous Knowledge: Co-constructing a new digital reality in rural Africa

Heike Winschiers-Theophilus, Kasper Løvborg Jensen, Kasper Rodil

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Digital re-presentation of indigenous knowledge remains an absurdity as long as we fail to deconstruct the prevalent design paradigm and techniques continuously re-framing technology within a western epistemology. This paper discusses key challenges in attempts of co-constructing a digital representation based on experiences from a longitudinal community-centred research project in rural Africa. In a quest to shape design from a locally situated viewpoint, we co-design a 3D visualization of an African village with its inhabitants. Prior invisible local perspectives, as well as dominant designer’s views are brought to light within the design interactions. A new digital reality is created at the periphery of the situated knowledge through continuous negotiations and joint meaning making.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEighth International Conference on Cultural Attitudes Towards Technology and Communication 2012 : Beyond the digital/cultural divide: in/visibility and new media
EditorsMichele Strano, Herbert Hrachovec, Fay Sudweeks, Charles Ess
Number of pages15
Place of PublicationSchool of Information Technology Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150 Australia, www.catacconference.org
PublisherSchool of Information Technology Murdoch University
Publication date18 Jun 2012
Pages454-469
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-921877-02-5
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jun 2012
EventCultural Attitudes Towards Technology and Communication: Beyond the digital/cultural divide: in/visibility and new media - Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Duration: 18 Jun 201220 Jun 2012

Conference

ConferenceCultural Attitudes Towards Technology and Communication
LocationAarhus University
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityAarhus
Period18/06/201220/06/2012

Keywords

  • indigenous knowledge
  • Technology
  • Africa

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Locally Situated Digital Representation of Indigenous Knowledge: Co-constructing a new digital reality in rural Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • IndiKnowTech: Indigenous Knowledge Technologies

    Rodil, K. (Project Manager), Rehm, M. (Project Participant), Winschiers-Theophilus, H. (Project Participant), Blake, E. (Project Participant), Koch Kapuire, G. (Project Participant), Stanley, C. (Project Participant) & Jensen, K. L. (Project Participant)

    01/01/2008 → …

    Project: Research

Cite this