Anwenders

Anwenders are a fictional cultural community described in speculative fiction and academic exercises to explore questions about technology, user agency, and digital ecosystems. In the narratives, Anwenders inhabit a networked urban region where people, devices, and services are designed to interoperate, share data, and coordinate actions with minimal friction. The term emphasizes active participation rather than passive consumption of technology.

Origin of the name: The designation derives from Anwender, the German word for "user." In the fiction, the community adopts Anwenders as a self-designation to foreground their identity as people who design, modify, and repurpose tools for collective tasks. The name signals a focus on process, collaboration, and ongoing tinkering.

Society and institutions: Anwenders organize through collaborative councils and guilds that oversee digital infrastructure, data governance, and public services. Membership is tied to demonstrated competence and ethical commitments to privacy, consent, and interoperability. Education emphasizes critical media literacy, repair and maintenance, and the use of open standards.

Cultural practices and economy: Public life centers on shared projects, open-source contributions, and communal workshops. Spaces integrate design labs, libraries, and repair cafés. The economy favors maintenance, customization, and knowledge exchange, with incentives for modular, privacy-preserving, and interoperable systems. The Anwenders appear in debates about autonomy and technocratic governance.