Over a century ago alternating current (AC) triumphed over direct current (DC) in the ‘war of the currents’ and ever since AC has been ubiquitous. Increasingly devices operating internally use DC power, hence inefficient conversions from AC to DC are necessarily common. Conversely, domestic photovoltaic (PV) panels produce DC current which must be inverted to AC to integrate with existing wiring, appliances, and/or be exported the power grid. By using batteries, specifically designed DC devices, and the Internet of Things, our infrastructure may be redesigned to improve efficiency. In this provocation, we use design fiction to describe how such a system could be implemented and to open a discussion about the broader implications of such a technological shift on user experience design and interaction design
