Memoro Meza by Abena Ondo

A glimpse into a 'Water Wisdom Kit', a fusion of tradition and necessity.

What if our trust in technology blinds us to the wisdom of the past?

Memoro Meza: A speculative design project reimagining water security in Equatorial Guinea by weaving Fang traditions with low-tech resilience in the face of failing AI-driven water management systems.

Ondo_6933, Equatorial Guinea

Description

Precision medicine and water security represent two sides of the same coin: understanding and responding to the specific needs of a system, whether biological or environmental. *Memoro Meza* explores a future where over-dependence on AI-driven water management in Equatorial Guinea backfires. Inspired by Fang traditions,the design integrates low-tech, community-driven solutions that combine indigenous methods of assessing water quality with basic filtration techniques. This creates a robust safety net, operational independently of potentially compromised technological systems. The project emphasises human resilience and the enduring value of ancestral wisdom in facing technological vulnerabilities.

Context

In this near-future Equatorial Guinea, sleek AI-powered drones once hummed over rivers, their sensors a symbol of progress. Now, many lie dormant, victims of cyber sabotage and neglected maintenance. Communities, initially reliant on the real-time data, are re-learning the old ways. Whispers of *nkú* (water spirits) are more frequent, and elders share knowledge of plant indicators and traditional filtration methods. A blend of high-tech ruins and revitalized ancestral practices marks both the physical landscape and the resilient spirit of the people.

Provocation

This work matters because it highlights the fragility of centralized, tech-dependent systems. We are currently over-relying on automated solutions for essential resources. Are we creating vulnerabilities? This project invites you to contemplate a balanced approach, valuing both technological advances and the resilience of indigenous wisdom.

Ondo_6933's process

Drawing from indigenous water management practices of the Fang culture, the project explores the potential for community resilience. These studies are interwoven with neuroscientific insight into how individuals behavior and action around resource scarcity. This cultural and intellectual foundation informs an integrative approach, combining anthropological research with speculative computational modelling. The models create various scenarios of system failures and community responses. This synthesis of methods reframes traditional knowledge through a scientific lens, offering an alternative to the blind faith in tech development. This process allows a deep exploration of the future challenges and how cultural inheritance becomes a life saver.

More about Ondo_6933

Events leading to ‘Memoro Meza’

2024: Broad adoption of AI water monitoring in developing nations, promising clean water access.

2025: First reports of minor AI system glitches and localized sensor inaccuracies emerge.

2026: Cybersecurity breaches target water infrastructure in several countries, raising concerns.

2027: Major AI malfunction causes a widespread water contamination misdiagnosis.

2028: Funding shifts from technological maintenance to reviving traditional water knowledge.

Imagined Future Scenarios Considered

Ondo_6933 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project

Within 5 years, AI-powered sensors will monitor water quality in real-time, providing early warnings for pollution events in rivers and lakes.

Extrapolated from Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence - Vatican.va

AI-driven drones autonomously monitor and purify water sources, identifying and neutralizing pollutants before they reach residential areas.

Extrapolated from Best cutting-edge health and fitness tech from CES 2025 - Fox News

Hypothetical Product Ideas Considered

Ondo_6933 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project

Water Emergency Relief Pods (WERPs)

Self-contained units deployed in communities relying on sensor data. These pods house independent water purification systems, manual testing equipment, and emergency supplies, functioning when AI systems glitch or fail.

Open Source Water Monitoring & Filtration Kits

Low-cost, DIY kits containing simple tools and instructions for monitoring and purifying water sources, empowering citizens to independently assess water quality and address basic needs in case of system failure. Plans would be readily available online, so communities could construct filters and monitoring equipment themselves to avoid relying on centralized infrastructure and data.

Cybersecurity Water Guardians

A subscription service that provides robust cybersecurity assessments and protection for water infrastructure. Specialized in protecting water monitoring systems from attacks that could disrupt AI functionality.

Emergency Water Caches

Strategically placed, hardened caches of purified water, manually operated filtration systems, and basic sanitation tools in communities, designed to be accessible and usable immediately following a system failure or large-scale contamination event. These would act as a back-up to the AI-driven system and provide a community focal point in an emergency. Location tracked but accessible in the absence of a network.

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