Ikkunall

Ikkunall is a term used in design fiction and critical design to describe a boundary device that mediates perception by presenting information, spaces, or others through an imagined or augmented 'window.' The concept treats a window not merely as a view to the outside but as an interface that can frame, filter, or translate experiences across contexts.

Etymology: The word is inspired by the Finnish word ikkuna for window, and the suffix -ll, used in academic discourse to denote a tool or locus. It is not a standard technical term but a heuristic.

Conceptual uses: In speculative design, ikkunall devices may project alternate realities into physical space, enable remote presence while preserving distance, or reflect on privacy and surveillance by exposing or concealing frames. In installations and digital interfaces, the ikkunall metaphor shapes experiences that can open multiple contextual frames.

Criticism: Some critics argue the metaphor can obscure power dynamics or oversimplify complex privacy issues; others see it as a useful thought experiment.

See also: Window (interface), Privacy, Augmented reality, Design fiction.