Technology promised to be the glue that would connect us to everything and everyone. The reality is that there are more and more people who feel that technology makes them feel more isolatedwith algorithms that catch in a doomscrolling loop endless. Furthermore, the devices are monotonous, gray and without personality. In this context, a creative scene of women who create their own personalized gadgets, with designs that leave no one indifferent, is emerging.
What is a cyberdeck. The concept was coined by William Gibson in his novel ‘Neuromancer‘. This idea ended up becoming a stream ‘maker‘ with users creating mini laptops from loose parts such as screens, keyboards from other gadgets and generally with a Raspberry as the brain. They are devices that do not connect to the internet and are usually designed for hacking or programming. Traditionally they were built by men and the aesthetics were more futuristic cyberpunk style or tactical style.
The cyberdecks of the girlies. Recently a new trend has emerged in cyberdecks in which women are the protagonists and they print that hyperfemininity with the most striking designs. It was popularized by the tiktoker and youtuber UbeBoobey when he created his cyberdeck with “mermaid” stylewhich is built inside a shell-type bag and decorated with pearls, crystals, moss and even has makeup inside.
Since she published her video in March of this year, many more creators have jumped on the trend of hyperfeminine cyberdecks in media as curious as ‘Polly Pocket’ cases, jewelers, ring boxes and even Hello Kitty toys.
Limited features. As we said, a cyberdeck is not designed to connect to the internet, so its functionalities are limited. UbeBoobey loaded movies, music, books, photos and even Wikipedia articles on its cyberdeck, all so as not to depend so much on Internet access. He also installed Doom and can play with a custom mouse as well. In statements to Wiredthe creator admits “I’m a hypocrite, because I use my phone every day. I wouldn’t prefer my Cyberdeck to my phone.”
The pleasure of building. But this movement is not about completely replacing the laptop or smartphone, it is about building something with your own hands and then imprinting your personality on the design. In addition, the creator states that it is a way to learn the ins and outs of how current technology works. “We are very disconnected from the manufacturing process, the origin and the inner workings of everything we use and interact with on a daily basis. Cyberdecks are a great starting point to become a little more familiar with technology,” he told Wired.
Rejection. There are people who have been building cyberdecks for years, but this new trend emerges at a time when there are a feeling of rejection towards big technologygreatly facilitated by the rise of AI tools, and an evident homogenization of technology, with increasingly minimalist devices and hardly any possibilities for customization. In this context, building a cyberdeck is a response to this discomfort, a way to regain control over technology with open, repairable and personalized devices.
Nretro ostalgia. It is a trend that we already talked about in its day in the thread of revival of digicams. Generation Z is falling in love with decades-old technologies, such as the first digital cameras, wired headphones, retro consoles or music players. Young people find charm in the imperfection of these technologies, such as less defined photos or the less clean sound of a player. In the midst of the wave of generative AI, these types of devices are perceived as more human and authentic. It is also a way of reusing technology that was already practically forgotten, compared to the idea of constant renewal to be up to date.
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