Threads of Tradition: Leveraging Technology for Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer in Mayan Textile Preservation

Abstract

This thesis is centered on the preservation of Mayan weaving traditions in Guatemala, which are currently at risk. This situation poses a threat to the loss of unique textile knowledge and cultural heritage. Rooted in the understanding that technology can support traditional crafts, this thesis proposes a human-centered participatory design approach to create a digital tool aimed at preserving and transmitting these traditions across generations. Ethnographic design research methods, including interviews, helped uncover the sociocultural factors influencing knowledge transmission and inform the development of digital technologies. The key research question asks how technology can effectively support the intergenerational transfer of weaving knowledge within Guatemalan textile traditions. This study contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, the exploration of social interaction dynamics within generations of weaving communities, and the development of socially responsible technologies to safeguard this heritage for future generations.