THAI AMULETS IN CONTEMPORARY DIGITAL LIFE: FROM SACRED OBJECTS TO HUMAN-ENHANCEMENT DEVICES

Abstract

This article proposes a conceptual framework to explain the dynamics of “Thai amulets” in contemporary society, where sacred objects are reinterpreted through digital technology and repositioned as “human-enhancement devices.” The theoretical objective is to elucidate the status shift from objects of faith toward “socio-technical components” within posthumanist and human-technology frameworks, viewing perception, affect, and selfhood as products of networks between the body, objects, interfaces, and data. The applied objective is to synthesize a design and ethics framework based on the axes of “empowering objects, identity mediation, and subtle energy” to guide the responsible development of technological amulets. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative documentary synthesis combined with case study analysis. Relevant documents were screened for topical relevance and credibility, then coded, categorized into themes, and managed through cross-source triangulation to resolve data contradictions. Case studies were selected purposively under a maximum-variation principle, prioritizing real-world digital applications and conceptual representativeness across three primary clusters: wearable health technologies, meditation and mental wellbeing applications, and contemporary art or design projects that translate traditional amuletic language into digital media and NFC-enabled prototypes. Findings indicate that the core axis of contemporary amulets is their function as “empowering objects” that support self-regulation through repeatable micro-rituals, such as vibrations, notification sounds, or tap-to-access content. This is followed by their role in negotiating identity between cultural symbols, the body, and digital data, and the translation of “subtle energy” into user experiences via designed interfaces. Notably, biosignals such as EEG are positioned as proxy indicators of mental states rather than direct measurements of energy. The article emphasizes the limitations of explaining faith through technological language and proposes a “Technological Amulet Ecosystem” model to offer new perspectives for both academia and design practitioners, highlighting future agendas for fieldwork and long-term evaluation.