Agency, Affordances, and Enculturation of Augmentation Technologies

This paper examines the rise of augmentation technologies—devices designed to enhance human cognitive, physical, sensory, or emotional capabilities—through the lens of technical communication and media studies. The authors argue that these technologies are not neutral tools but are being actively 'enculturated' into society through corporate marketing and the 'AI wave.' By analyzing promotional materials for robots, wearables, and virtual reality systems, the authors explore how companies use rhetoric to frame these technologies as necessary, beneficial, and even 'symbiotic' partners in human life.

A central focus of the paper is the concept of agency. The authors move beyond traditional views of agency as a purely human trait, instead adopting the framework of 'symbiotic agency.' In this view, humans and AI systems form complex cognitive assemblages where tasks and decision-making are distributed. The authors warn that while this symbiosis is marketed as a way to improve productivity or overcome limitations, it often masks the ways in which these technologies exert control over users and minimize human autonomy in environments like classrooms or workplaces.

The paper also investigates the 'Metaverse' as a powerful rhetorical trope used by Big Tech to justify the adoption of increasingly invasive augmentation technologies. By framing the Metaverse as an inevitable next phase of the internet, companies encourage users to adopt hardware—such as smart contact lenses or VR headsets—that promises seamless integration between physical and virtual worlds. The authors caution that this vision is largely speculative and driven by corporate desires for data collection and market dominance, rather than genuine human-centric needs.

For researchers and professionals in technical communication, UX design, and ethics, this paper provides a critical framework for evaluating emerging technologies. It highlights the importance of looking past the 'hype' of AI and augmentation to understand how these systems are designed to shape human behavior and social structures. By recognizing the persuasive strategies used to promote these technologies, designers and scholars can better advocate for ethical, human-centered development that prioritizes user agency over corporate profit.