Over the last few weeks, I’ve been conducting brainstorming sessions with classmates to further refine my thesis. My goal was to come up with concrete answers to some initial questions/concerns about the project:
What is the problem?
If tools are helpful, what are some examples that support this?
What is the benefit? Better decision-making skills? Happier lives resulting from lowered stress/anxiety?
What will this thing look like? A book? Website? GPS-like devices? Guides? Program? Self-help? WHAT?
How can the analogy be further developed? If GPS devices can get you to where you’re going, what can EPS devices do? How far does the analogy extend?
Can there really be an emotional dimension to technology?
How real or hypothetical is this projected intended to be?
I found these discussions extremely useful as a debate was raised as to whether technology should “control” emotional navigation—forcing an emotional decision—or merely offer guidance for decision-making. If my intent is to brand a company around its suite of products, do I suggest that these products remove the need for emotional intelligence or will they reinforce that necessity? If these tools offer guidance, then how accurate will my algorithm be that produces the solution? Is it even possible to determine a definitive solution? How much of a Psychology thesis do I want this project to be? Clearly, more questions arose from this exercise, but I’m glad I’m able to address them sooner than later.
As a result of these brainstorming sessions, I’ve decided to frame my thesis project in the following way:
1. A company, set in 2035, has become the industry leader in Emotional Navigation technology after introducing tools which generate emotional responses on behalf of the user without user-intervention.
2. The language used for branding the company will be entirely in the voice of the company.
3. It is difficult to properly assess a person’s emotional state or to offer emotional guidance without first having access to some personal information. If this proposed technology is to work, it may need to intrude on people’s privacy. Perhaps this is why no such technology is in existence today.
4. By not having some sense of emotional intelligence or control over emotional decision-making, one runs the risk of losing human experience or humanity. Creating a hypothetical reality where that risk has become a foregone conclusion, I’m able to advocate emotional intelligence in an ironic and playful manner.
