The Second Domain Lies in What Is Currently Called Reality

In a world of mixed analogue, digital and virtual layers many narratives appear, from purely technical ones to social critique and design fiction. On technological futures, we know mostly dystopias, utopias are rare. With AI blurring the line between fact and fiction and real and virtual, it is all the more necessary for coherent decision-making processes to be able to find a common ground, concepts, and notions of events, what actually happened. We have such a tool, the mobile phone, but it does not currently serve as a space to negotiate moments of sameness but moments of difference. In 1976, in novel called Woman at the Edge of Time, that device was foreseen as a “kenner.” It could take various forms, for example, a “smart watch.” Data stayed on the device, as there was no central server. It acts as a personal encyclopedia and a communication tool. But it is connected to communities of practice and living together. It also gives feedback on (mental) health. This community is set in 2137. Everyone is called person. When the protagonist sees/feels/imagines the future she is very disappointed as there are no steel high rises but messy communal spaces straight out of gypsy villages. Still there is communal heating and energy. It is explained that there was no innovation and technology development in a straight line. And it is this linear development of only a handful of corporations allowing them to innovate just on prior technological developments, flying high above the ground as it were, not concerned with people’s reactions, not concerned with local neighborhood dynamics, not concerned with privacy or security, that we have today. We need a time-out. We need to renegotiate. We need a kenner.