Protocols in (Emergency) Time

<p>Temporality is a fundamental aspect of all protocols. To more fully explore the temporal underpinnings in the projects pursued during the Summer of Protocols, I conducted interviews with the core researchers in the program. Based on a comparative analysis, I propose three strongly formulated theses: first, protocols emerge out of and in response to moments of crisis and uncertainty; second, they contain contradictory tendencies of facilitating change in behaviors on the one hand, while aiming to routinize and conserve contexts on the other; and third, while they try to make the future manageable, they inherently lack goal-orientation toward the future. I attempt to examine the implications of these theses for the deployment of protocols in tumultuous conditions by posing the following questions: How and when do protocols enable innovative agency? When do protocols adhere to conventions, optimize continuous flow, or enact emergency measures?</p>