Su Lynn Myat and Peter Jones
This paper introduces the Participatory towards Anticipatory (PtA) process, a systemic design approach developed to involve the public in shaping the direction of emerging technologies. As technologies increasingly influence societal norms, institutions, and daily life, the need for more inclusive and anticipatory forms of governance has become critical. Traditional public engagement mechanisms often occur too late in the policy process, offering little opportunity for meaningful influence. In contrast, PtA is designed to bring diverse public voices into the early stages of technological development, before key decisions are finalised.
Grounded in systemic design theory, PtA draws on two foundational frameworks: Structured Dialogic Design (SDD) and strategic foresight. SDD provides a methodology for inclusive problem structuring, enabling participants to surface core concerns, map interdependencies, and generate shared insights. Complementing this, foresight tools such as STEEPV, Three Horizons, and VERGE support participants in exploring technological impacts across domains and timeframes, while encouraging values-based reflection.
To inform the design, a public engagement survey was conducted across four Canadian provinces to assess willingness to participate in policy deliberation. Seventy responses were collected, and 18 participants took part in prototype testing. The PtA process unfolded in several phases, beginning with narrative-based inquiry and ending in a Technology Assessment Co-Lab, a two-hour, dialogic workshop facilitated through the Logosofia platform. This final step enabled participants to co-develop systemic insights and reflect on the future of technology in society.
Keywords: technology assessment, participatory technology assessment, dialogic design, foresight RSD: Policy & Governance, Methods & Methodology, Society & Culture