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CASLS Associate Director Mandy Gettler and Language Technician Christopher Daradics presented “Technology, Consciousness, and Agency: Deconstructing Digital Design” at the Mozilla Foundation Festival in London.

The presentation discussed the ways in which digital design shapes user behavior in both on- and offline spaces. Participants also explored how interactions with technology connect to feelings and bodily experiences.

The presentation included a sneak peak at the mobile application Analog U being developed at CASLS. Analog U leads users through a process of self-discovery and exploration that supports mindful, intentional interactions with technology.

Analog U represents a multidisciplinary approach between CASLS and associate professor in English Lisa Freinkel, who is also a trained mindfulness instructor.

“We need to become mindful not just about our technology, but with our technology,” Professor Freinkel says the Analog U approach.

“Our hope is not to change people’s behavior to an ‘ideal’ model, but rather call their attention to be aware of their own choices and interactions with their digital devices,” says CASLS Director Dr. Julie Sykes.

The mindful approach supported by Analog U prepares learners to pause, observe the target language culture, and consider their own subjectivity – all of which are key features to developing intercultural competence and communicative proficiency, the very type of language learning CASLS works to support.