Co-Production Process with Coastal Communities: Surfacing Ocean Knowledge, Relationships and Culture

Abstract

In recent years, extended reality technologies have gained momentum [3] and are being used in sectors such as healthcare, e-commerce, education, tourism [18], and heritage. This paper investigates the co-production process of an augmented reality application titled EfutaLetu SidaHurib (Translation— ’Our ocean, Our ocean’ in Oshiwambo and khoekhoegowab) that showcases ocean knowledge, relationships, and culture of communities residing in Namibia’s coastal towns, for posterity and preservation. It includes inputs and benefits from the workshops and co-production process. The research employs the scholarship on participatory design coupled with co-production synergies and engages residents of coastal towns to explore and reveal the relationships that the communities share with the ocean and how these diverse relationalities can be supported and preserved using augmented reality.