Public defence in Design, M.Sc. Nils Ehrenberg

The title of the thesis: Panopticons of Convenience - The Internal Politics of the Smart Home

Doctoral student: Nils Ehrenberg
Opponent: Prof. Heather Wiltse, Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden
Custos: Prof. Turkka Keinonen, Aalto-yliopiston taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu, muotoilun laitos

https://aalto.zoom.us/j/65132288973

In his doctoral dissertation in design, Nils Ehrenberg explores narratives of power within the smart home. Throughout the thesis smart home technologies are explored in a series of case studies which involve smart home makers and their partners, co-living spaces, and services concerning public digitalisation. The case studies are utilised to build an understanding of how smart technologies may affect autonomy, agency, and equality. 

Nils Ehrenberg’s thesis contributes to the discourse on smart technologies through a Foucauldian understanding of the smart home, conceptualising smart homes as panopticons of convenience, where convenience implies less or lighter housework.

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/doc_public/eonly/riiputus/

Contact information:

Doctoral theses in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/54
Zoom Quick Guide: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/zoom-quick-guide