Every object is part of the system. This is the statement of contemporary capitalistic civilisation within every object/interaction that we encounter in our daily lives.

Going to the cafe, ordering a coffee -- encountering many objects, encountering many ‘systems’

1) Coffee beans - History of coffee, 커피 농장, 원산지, 원도 노예, 재배 조건, 기후 변화 등
2) 알바 - 인건비, 고용업 - 최저임금, 정책 - 고용시장, 경기 - 고용노동제, 노동법, 시급, 알바 교육, 매뉴얼, 브랜딩, 인사말, 상투어, 로봇 대체 등
3) 커피머신 - 공학 - 엔지니어링, 최적화, 머신 설계, A/S - 구독 경제, 경쟁 회사 - 커피 회사 - 이탈리아, 커피 문화, 최초의 커피 머신 등
4) 인테리어 - 가구, 이케아, 가구 대량생산, - 디자인 트렌드, 거장, 유행하는 트렌드, 홈 퍼니싱 향수 등
5) 주문 키오스크 - 공학, 엔지니어링, UI/UX, 고령 유저 이슈, - 최저시급 인상, 무인화, 무인 기계, 수수료 등
6) 배경음악 - 대중음악, bgm, 저작권, 플레이리스트, 멜론/스포티파이 등 플랫폼, 유행 등
7) 대형 교외 카페 - 대도시, 교외 도시, 신도시, 경기도 땅값, 트렌드 변화, 경기 상황, 상권, 주요 고객처 
8) 커피 가격 - 경제, 수요, 투자 및 회수, 브랜딩, 경기 상황 등

“Coffee Culture - Cup as a global interface”

Even for this simple experience -- of ordering a cafe - and many simple objects that we encounter within the course of ordering a coffee, we encounter loads of ‘systems’, complicated and entangled ‘systems’

More complicated example: 광명역 KTX

1) KTX 배차 간격 - 공학적 설계 한계, 수요, 수도권 집중화, 서울 선호 현상, 지역 지방 경제, 지역 관광 활성, 경부선/호남선 배차 간격 이슈, 지역 감정, 지역 정치학, KTX SRT 이슈, 공무원 공기업 낙하산, 정치, 자본논리, 독과점, 정부 공기업, 철도 민영화 -- 영국, 이탈리아의 이슈, 대처, 신자유주의
2) 광명역 - 부동산, 지형적 이슈, 신고속선 건설, 예산, 경기 상황, 신도시, 지역 정치, 서울 남부권 수요 
3) 부동산 가격 - 천안아산 원정 출근, 광명 서울역 출근, 출퇴근 시간과 집값, 부동산 가격 상승, 신자유주의, 철도 교통망, 도로 교통망, 철도 도로 분담율, 환경오염, 지역 정치, 국토교통부, 신도시, 그린벨트, 환경보호, 런던의 그린벨트 정책, 도시의 무한한 확장 - 제프리 웨스트 스케일, 산업혁명, 철도

Everyday interface / every object is ultimately part of the system --- combination of many entangled, cross-influenced systems.

Frontend-backend structure:
Frontend: Orderly/clean user-facing simplicity, neat design, comfortable/pleasurably designed experience (Field of Design)
Backend: Actually, the reality is complicated --- Behind a clean frontend, there exists a complicated backend, a complex entanglement & combination of systems (Field of Art)
Perhaps the role of art - systems art - is to reveal this complicated backend behind the scene -- Just as Hans Haacke:

Hans Haacke Manhattan Real Estate Holdings → Real estate, what’s wrong? Rich people buying houses, what’s wrong? But what Hans Haccke did & revealed through his survey is an underlying power structure/rotten system/connection with the museum behind the scene. He did not just post the object. Through ana analysis and visualisation, he revealed the ‘backend’ system behind the scenes. And this is the power of systems art.

Design vs. Art: Polishing the Surface vs. Exposing the System

“Everything is connected to everything else” -- Barry Commoner

But modern design/interface claims ‘disentanglement’, making it simple, through branding, making things to be perceived simply as an ‘object’ rather than an interconnected system -- i.e., you can just through up all the trash, as you are our customer, and thus you don’t have to remember the fact that your act of disposal can negatively impact our planet’s ecology -- You paid that amount of money to make yourself relief from those heavy facts. You paid to forget yourself that you’re an entangled being with the complicated system -- you paid to be disentangled.

재고관리, 물류관리 등의 시스템?
Commodity Fetishism - Marx
“As designers, we have a responsibility to remove inherent complexity from our interfaces, or else we ship that complexity to our users” - Jon Yablonski

philosopher Martin Heidegger observed that a tool or system becomes visible to us mainly when it malfunctions, disrupting the smooth experience -- The Idea of Frontend Backend
SoTA already explored the frontend-backend structure --- Now can we develop more persisiting/everlasting frontend-backend structure? (Rather than the phone turning off? -- i.e. making backend also interactive?)

-------
GPT Ideation

Here are a few more everyday scenarios that—when you unpack them—reveal extremely tangled networks of social, economic, political, and technological “systems” working in the background.

1. Smartphone & Mobile App Ecosystem
Scenario: You pick up your phone in the morning, scroll through social media, order groceries, and then check your email.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tHardware & Supply Chain: Rare earth minerals, labor conditions in mines (Congo, China, etc.), manufacturing hubs (Foxconn in China, India, Vietnam), trade policies, intellectual property rights, global tech competition.
\t•\tSoftware & Platforms: Operating systems (iOS, Android), app store regulations, developer fees, user data policies (GDPR, CCPA), platform monopolies (Apple, Google).
\t•\tTelecommunications Infrastructure: Cell tower placements, spectrum auctions, government regulation, 5G rollout, net neutrality debates.
\t•\tData Centers & Energy: Cloud servers powering apps; their carbon footprint, location of data centers, renewables vs. fossil fuel usage, global network latency optimization.
\t•\tAdvertising & Monetization: Personalized ads, data brokerage, targeted marketing, privacy debates, social implications (algorithmic recommendation, fake news).
\t•\tSocial & Psychological Factors: The dopamine loop, user engagement strategies, mental health discussions, push notifications.

2. Streaming a Movie at Home
Scenario: You relax after dinner, open Netflix (or another streaming service), and watch your favorite show.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tContent Licensing & Production: Hollywood studios, global licensing deals, local censorship laws, intellectual property, film/TV unions, global streaming rights.
\t•\tGlobal Distribution Networks: Undersea fiber optic cables, internet backbone providers, server farms (CDNs), net neutrality, peering agreements between ISPs.
\t•\tUser Devices: Smart TVs, set-top boxes, tablets—each with their own OS, partnerships, licensing fees.
\t•\tSubscription Models: Monthly fees, bundling with telecom plans, competition among streaming platforms, original vs. syndicated content.
\t•\tCultural Impact & Local Regulations: Local content quotas (e.g., EU directives), censorship or content regulation in certain countries, cultural export.
\t•\tEnvironmental Footprint: Electricity usage for high-definition streaming, data center cooling, e-waste from short device lifespans.

3. Grocery Shopping at a Supermarket
Scenario: You walk through aisles choosing vegetables, packaged goods, dairy items, and pay at a self-checkout kiosk.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tAgricultural Supply Chains: Farming methods (organic vs. industrial), migrant labor, global export/import networks, pesticide usage, GMO debates.
\t•\tLogistics & Cold Chain: Refrigerated trucking, freight shipping, just-in-time inventory, warehousing, packaging and plastics, carbon footprint.
\t•\tGlobal Price Fluctuations: Commodity pricing for wheat, corn, coffee, currency exchange rates, trade tariffs, OPEC influences on transportation costs.
\t•\tRetail Technology & Automation: Self-checkout machines, POS systems, inventory management software, user data collection (loyalty cards), labor shifts (cashier vs. automation).
\t•\tBranding & Consumer Behavior: Marketing campaigns, product placement fees, psychological pricing, nutritional labeling regulations.
\t•\tLabor & Employment: Union vs. non-union workers, local labor laws, part-time vs. full-time debates, wage negotiations.

4. Taking Public Transit (Bus or Subway)
Scenario: You tap your transit card, hop on a subway or bus, and commute across town.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tUrban Planning & Policy: Zoning laws, city council decisions, funding allocations, traffic management, public vs. private operation models.
\t•\tInfrastructure Funding: Government subsidies, ticket pricing debates, taxation, toll roads, PPP (Public-Private Partnerships).
\t•\tVehicle Engineering: Energy efficiency, alternative fuels (electric/hydrogen buses), maintenance costs, procurement from multinational manufacturers.
\t•\tLabor Relations: Transit worker unions, wage standards, strikes, service disruptions.
\t•\tRidership Data & Tech: Smart card systems, apps for schedules, real-time GPS tracking, data privacy concerns, optimization algorithms for routes.
\t•\tEnvironmental Impact: CO2 emissions, push for greener fleets, relationship to car usage, city pollution levels, global climate goals.

5. Using a Food-Delivery App
Scenario: You’re busy working from home and order takeout via a popular food-delivery platform.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tGig Economy: Rider/driver pay rates, platform commissions, labor classification (independent contractor vs. employee), unionization efforts.
\t•\tRestaurant Partnerships: Delivery fees, promotional deals, platform-driven marketing, “dark kitchens” or “cloud kitchens,” price inflation.
\t•\tTech Platforms & Data: Algorithmic matching of riders and orders, user location tracking, big data analytics, consumer behavior insights, surge pricing.
\t•\tInfrastructure & Logistics: Road networks, traffic patterns, city regulations for bikes/scooters, insurance for accidents.
\t•\tCompetition & Consolidation: Mergers/acquisitions among major delivery apps, local vs. global players, diversification into grocery delivery.
\t•\tSocial & Health Aspects: Dietary habits shaped by convenience, packaging waste and environmental concerns, changing restaurant business models.

6. Wearing Fast Fashion Clothing
Scenario: You buy a trendy new shirt from a fast-fashion retailer—low price, updated styles weekly.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tGlobal Supply Chain: Factories in developing countries, labor conditions, living wage debates, outsourcing to cut costs, oversight (or lack thereof).
\t•\tLogistics & Distribution: Large container ships, ocean freight routes, seasonal demand forecasting, warehouse automation.
\t•\tEnvironmental Impact: Textile waste, water usage for cotton, microplastics from synthetic fibers, greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
\t•\tMarketing & Consumer Psychology: “Haul culture” on social media, influencer marketing, planned obsolescence, rapid trend cycles.
\t•\tRegulations & Labels: Eco-labeling, “greenwashing,” ethical trade certifications, consumer protection laws.
\t•\tLocal Retail Economy: Brick-and-mortar store rents, e-commerce vs. physical shopping, urban retail patterns, gentrification of shopping districts.

7. Ordering an Uber (or Other Ride-Hailing Service)
Scenario: It’s late, and you need a quick ride from a ride-hailing app.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tPlatform Economics: Surge pricing, driver vs. platform revenue splits, venture capital investments, IPO valuations.
\t•\tLabor & Legal Debates: Independent contractor classification, lawsuits over benefits and insurance, labor union movements in gig economy.
\t•\tTech Infrastructure: GPS navigation, route optimization, traffic data analytics, server stability, cloud computing.
\t•\tUrban Traffic & Congestion: City regulations for ride-sharing, congestion pricing, competition with taxis, emissions from increased car usage.
\t•\tGlobal Expansion & Local Policies: Differing local taxi laws (bans in certain countries), local partnerships vs. local competition, data storage regulations, consumer rights.
\t•\tCorporate Governance & Ethics: Data privacy concerns, safety features, background checks, sexual harassment cases, PR crises.

8. Paying with a Credit Card or Mobile Payment
Scenario: You tap or swipe your credit card at a convenience store, or you use a phone-based wallet app.
Systems & Influences:
\t•\tFinancial Networks: Global card networks (Visa, Mastercard), interchange fees, payment gateways, banks, fintech startups, blockchains.
\t•\tRegulatory Landscape: Anti-money laundering laws (AML), know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, interest rate limits, consumer protection laws.
\t•\tCredit Scoring & Consumer Debt: Credit bureaus, personal credit scores, interest charges, global consumer debt, financial inclusion vs. exclusion.
\t•\tMerchant Operations: POS hardware leasing, transaction fees, small-business margins, loyalty program data.
\t•\tTechnology & Security: Encryption standards, tokenization, fraud detection algorithms, biometric authentication, data breaches.
\t•\tEconomic Policy: Monetary policy (interest rates, inflation), government stimulus or credit regulations, central bank digital currencies.

Final Note
All these scenarios underscore the idea that even the simplest daily acts—sipping coffee, tapping a metro card, posting on social media—are not isolated transactions. They’re embedded in complex webs of economic forces, political decisions, technological infrastructures, cultural norms, and historical trajectories. Recognizing these intricate networks can shift our perspective: no action is purely “local” or “simple”—each is part of a broader, entangled system.