Dissertation Idea:
We have evolved through different environments; initially we were water based organisms then adapted to living on land, all the way up to the most recent socially interacting human we have now become.
But we have not evolved for one ‘set’ environment, the environment has been changing and we have ‘adapted’ to survive within it. As we have adapted to these environments we have developed ways of surviving, whether this is the opposable thumb or a basic nervous system. But the evolution process doesn’t ‘restart’ for each change in the environment, it builds on what has already evolved. This means that we have been left a legacy of old and possibly redundant adaptations, but what is worse is that because our environment is changing so fast at present (due to us) there is a increasing gap between our environment and our ability to naturally adapt to it.
For example problems we already know about include our innate desire for high energy, salty foods, but because these are plentiful now this desire is causing obesity and heart problems.
What problems are likely to arise due to the information age? What innate needs do we have that are now completely saturated? And how would ‘we’ have evolved to best suit this current environment?
As a designer working with technology today, what concerns me is how to bridge this gap between the environment and our society. The question of what can be done by designers to make future generations fit for the current environment rather than just fulfilling innate desires is one I intend to examine.
In terms of removing old traits (via education? genetics?) many instinctive behaviours are now unnessacerry and/or counter productive, as concious thought can do most the same things in a more effective fashion.
Of those I would keep, I think fear has to be top of the list. Although it does sometimes get in the way, it still protects us from taking excessive risks, all be it business or social decisions rather than whether to hunt that vicious squirrel..
Evolutionarily speaking at individual gene lines level, health, fertility, desire to reproduce and traits which help attracting a mate still seem to be key factors (whos got that sense of humour gene…).
On the higher “survival of the species” level, it’s harder to say, but I’d guess it’s likely to be very much social qualities. Collective risk-adversion might help us not to destroy one other on purpose, while long term planning, teamwork and behaving in the interests of the herd rather than the individual may stop us doing it by mistake; not sure how you design for that though, over to you…