Tech Won't Save Us

How Interfaces Shape Our Relationship to Tech w/ Zachary Kaiser

Paris Marx is joined by Zachary Kaiser to discuss the power of tech interfaces, why data isn’t an accurate reflection of the world, and why we need to discuss democratic decomputerization. Zachary Kaiser is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Experience Architecture at Michigan State University. He’s also the author of Interfaces and Us: User Experience Design and the Making of the Computable Subject. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry. Also mentioned in this episode:Paris is speaking in Auckland on <a href="https://www.tohatoha.org.nz/2024/02/event-tech-wont-fix-the-climate-crisis/">February 18</a> at an event hosted by Tohatoha.Zachary wrote about <a href="https://reallifemag.com/sleep-subjects/">dream reading technologies</a> for Real Life.Zachary mentions specific works by <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780674032927">David Golumbia</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781842300114">Ivan Illich</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781839761324">Aaron Benanav</a>, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0263276411424420">John Cheney-Lippold</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780791412435">Thomas F. Tierney</a>, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0306312714540060">Marisa Brandt</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780691150451">Arturo Escobar</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780816624379">James Ferguson</a>.<a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus" rel="payment">Support the show</a>

Silicon Valley wants to shape our future, but why should we let it? Every Thursday, Paris Marx is joined by a new guest to critically examine the tech industry, its big promises, and the people behind them. Tech Won’t Save Us challenges the notion that tech alone can drive our world forward by showing that separating tech from politics has consequences for us all, especially the most vulnerable. It’s not your usual tech podcast.