“REAL (REimagining ALgorithmic futures) is a card deck designed to inspire and provoke thinking about algorithmic systems and how they shape human lives, society and potential futures. The cards aim to stimulate thinking and conversations about the values embedded in algorithmic systems, as well as their social and technological implications. They advocate for a more inclusive dialogue concerning varied algorithmic futures.
The deck is built around a series of keywords: threshold, steering, codability, replacement, responsibility, repair, and friction. Each keyword has a set of nine cards associated with it: a title card, which features the keyword and its definition, and eight cards featuring questions designed to prompt refection and discussion. The questions are designed to work with a specific case or example of an algorithmic system.
The REAL card deck can be used by experts, critics, developers, analysts, consultants, students, and researchers. The cards are suitable for group interactions, workshops, or for working individually. They can serve various purposes, for example research, design and development or strategy processes, or teaching.
While there is no right or wrong way to use the cards, we provide several concrete ideas for working with them in the associated booklet.”
