research seminar given by Suzanne Lee and Lisa Stead, June 2001

Introduction (Lisa Stead): Deter or Instigate? The Techology Debate

This work was initiated by an interest in 'things that do things' and a fascination with material and emerging technologies. A fashion background prompted me to think of clothing as purely fulfilling a function. The function of protection is one issue that I have addressed in my studies: protection from the elements but also protection from other outside influences. The designs on this website are part of my research into new applications for material technology. The designs are conceptual but based on practical possibilities. Although they were not specifically designed for the DAC initiative, they are relevant as they address the issue of self-protection. Both designs take their inspiration from nature (biomimetics) and illustrate how material technology could be used to address the fight against crime. Hopefully, they also contribute towards the debate on the moral and social implications of using technology in this way and question the meaning of and reaction to, biomimetic metaphor within a human context.

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