Reverse engineering breaks down an existing object or system according to its construction and then rebuilds it based on new demands. The process encourages creative appropriation while democratizing knowledge. Contributors apply reverse engineering to art, science, and politics and highlight the importance of access, knowledge, and skills to reshaping our present and the future.
Günther Friesinger lives in Vienna and Graz as a philosopher, artist, writer, curator and producer. He is Head of the paraflows Festival, CEO of monochrom, co-organiser of the Arse Elektronika Festival and the Roboexotica Festival.
Jana Herwig has worked in the online industry in various roles since web 1.0 days - as a web developer, community and project manager, individual and corporate blogger, researcher and instructor. She taught German in South Africa, English in Austria and returned to academia and media studies in 2008. At present, she blogs mainly in German at digiom.wordpress.com.