Never before in the history of humanity has a machine so rapidly become indispensable to the lives of billions of people. Today, the smartphone is a central tool in our daily routines, yet we rarely pause to reflect on what its use truly entails: from how it is designed, to the global supply chains that produce it, and to the economic and cognitive power that surrounds it.
The workshop “The Smartphone: Technology, Economy and Power,” consisting of five thematic sessions curated by Prof. Juan Carlos De Martin, was conceived to explore critically and consciously the technological object we use most in our everyday lives.
During the lectures offered in May 2025, the following topics were addressed and are accessible by clicking on each individual item:
- Introduction: the anatomy of the smartphone
- Where it comes from and where it ends up: history, raw materials, components, assembly, distribution and disposal
- The consequences of use: effects on the body, the environment, information and the mind
- Who exercises power over the smartphone
- Manifesto: imagining a different, possible smartphone
The project has been started with the contribution of the Ministry of University and Research pursuant to D.D. n. 1159 of July 23rd, 2023 - PROBEN Call - Project PROBEN_0000010 “Health, Physical Activity and Well-being in Academia (S.A.M.B.A.)” and it continues with the contribution of the Ministry of University and Research pursuant to D.D. n. 1396 of September 18th,2024 - Pro-ben Call 2024 (PRO-BEN 2) – Project ProBen2024_0000006 “Health, physical activity and wellbeing in Academia 2 (S.A.M.B.A.2)”
