Speculative Technologies: Here and Now, There and Then

Speculative technologies emerge at the intersection of imagination and scientific knowledge. They stretch the limits of what is currently possible, offering glimpses of the shape of things to come. Existing in the domains of theory, design, and fantasy, they may sometimes seem impractical, unrealistic, or even impossible from the perspective of the present. Nevertheless, they serve as provocations and inspirations, pointing to new possibilities, alternate horizons, and different worlds beyond our current reality. Speculative technologies are not just products of speculation; they are also generators, drivers, and focalizers of speculation, instruments of subjunctivity. The essays collected in this two-part special issue examine speculative technologies through historical reconstructions, philosophical reflections, cultural-technology assessments, museological engagements, and literary experiments.