thingsbe
Thingsbe is a term used in contemporary philosophy and design discourse to indicate that everyday objects have a form of presence or agency that shapes human behavior. The coinage blends "things" and "to be" to highlight the ontological status of material artifacts within social life.
Origin and scope: The term has appeared in online design criticism and speculative philosophy since the early
Conceptual framework: Thingsbe draws on strands of object-oriented ontology and thing theory, while remaining oriented toward
Applications: In product development and interaction design, thingsbe urges consideration of how artifacts influence user choices,
Criticism: Critics warn that the term can be vague or risk anthropomorphizing non-sentient artifacts. Proponents respond
Related concepts include object-oriented ontology, material culture, and thing theory.