Event Overview:
Digital technologies are intimately woven into our daily lives through wearables, smart objects, and assistive tech, blending the cyber and physical worlds. Advances in AI raise new questions about what it means to be human in a society closely connected with digital systems. 

This symposium examines how technological advancements reshape identity, connection, and the human experience. We explore how embodied and artistic design approaches can shape AI-enabled human-technology entanglements, engaging with concepts such as human vulnerability, identity, empathy, diversity, and partnerships with technology. Multidisciplinary contributions will enrich the discussions throughout the day.

The event also features results from the DiscReTe project (Disconnections and Relationships mediated through Intimate Technologies), in which a conceptual wearable prototype was developed in collaboration with dancers. The wearable device is designed to support nuanced communication, boundary-setting, and interaction management for persons with diverse communication needs and will be demonstrated through an artistic-performative interpretation.

Programme Highlights:

💡 Keynotes by Dr. Petra Gemeinboeck and Dr. Sarah Homewood

🛠️ Workshop on vulnerability and empathy in intimate technology design 

🤖 Insights in creative-performative methods

🤝 Panel on the value of embodied and performative approaches in research and design

💃 Dance performance and presentation DiscReTe project

Contributions to the interactive programme by: 
Dr. Caroline Bollen, Dr. Edwin Dertien, Dr. Naomi Jacobs, Dr. Janna van Grunsven  

Expert panel: (moderated by Malou Beemer) 
Abdelhadi Baaddi, Dr. Maaike Bleeker, Jonathan Chaim Reus, Dr. Julia Herrmann, Dr. Matthijs Noordzij

Acknowledgements:
The DisCreTe project is affiliated with the NWO gravitation project Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) and DesignLab University of Twente. It is led by Dr. Birna van Riemsdijk and Dr. Michaela Honauer, and has been developed in collaboration with Laisvie Ochoa (choreographer-performer) and Dennis Massar (performer) from ConCuerpos inclusive dance company, Malou Beemer (wearable integration design) and Emil Gravier (technological development). It is supported by InteractionLab University of Twente, Vrijhof University of Twente and the Fashion Tech Farm in Eindhoven. Additional thanks for their support go to Marianna Alessandri, Marcos Montero Grande, Jonas Hentschel, Dr. Edwin Dertien, Dr. Gwenn Englebienne, Jur van Geel, Dr. Juliet Haarman.