Ann-Perry Witmer – författare

This book shows readers a new way of thinking about the engineering design process, as well as how to expand their understanding of the role of technical designers in society, whether working with international communities or user populations from their own hometown. As readers build an understanding of Contextual Engineering, this book will challenge them to think about the applicability of the concept more broadly, not only in terms of technical design but in personal and professional interactions with others as well. At the same time, readers will learn techniques to explore their own predispositions and the biases they may not be aware they have, equipping them to interact with others more impartially. This self-reflection process also assists the designer in working with and accepting the uncertainty that is inherent in exploring context.

This series of essays, written by scholars and practitioners of engineering and music after visits to indigenous communities in Bolivia and Sierra Leone, illustrate the experiences, conversations, and insights that arose from consilient research. As the authors and contributors dive more deeply into each other’s Western traditions of expertise, a surprising commonality emerges between music and technology – a commonality rooted in ignorance toward the power of indigeneity. This is an unexplored area of inquiry in both engineering and music. Each discipline follows rigorous traditions in Western academic institutions that have not only disregarded but have demeaned ancestral and indigenous traditions. By bringing together diverse artists and engineers, this exploration examines how engaging with non-Western knowledge can alter the understanding of Western experts in any field.