Thesis Enhancing inclusivity in human-computer interaction through the implementation of temporal uncertainty tools, 2024, Bowler

[Dolphin]

https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/42276

Enhancing inclusivity in human-computer interaction through the implementation of temporal uncertainty tools

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Date
09/10/2024

Author
Bowler, Ryan David

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This doctoral study explores how Temporal Uncertainty tools can enhance inclusion in HCI.

It proposes that HCI should design tools that accommodate individuals’ diverse and uncertain temporalities.

It argues that dominant concepts of time can exclude people who experience time differently, drawing on theoretical and empirical work from social sciences.

It focuses on the social aspects of time in relation to health experiences, and how they shape and are shaped by uncertainty.

The core argument of this thesis emerged early in the research process when studying people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

The findings show that health uncertainty can clash with social norms of time, leading to exclusion.

This is reflected in the research question: In what ways do people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome experience time with regard to health and social interaction?

Participants with CFS reported that the pressure to conform to rigid social and professional interactions, despite their uncertain health, was problematic and compromised their well-being.

This often resulted in social exclusion.

Building on the research with CFS individuals, this study expanded its scope to explore Temporal Uncertainty more broadly.

A key question that guided this exploration was:
What insights are produced from a broader audience when given the ability to communicate uncertainty?
To answer this question, a speculative probe named HAZE was created based on design guidelines from the CFS study.

HAZE was deployed with a wider audience to encourage participatory speculation and allow people to communicate and remain in uncertainty.

The findings revealed a significant demand for tools that facilitate the expression of uncertainty.

Participants indicated that uncertainty is not commonly accepted in society, and tools like HAZE could help normalise the experience, improve health outcomes, and foster empathy.

This thesis critiques the lack of attention given to the exclusion experienced by individuals who do not have access to tools that support the expression of uncertainty in HCI research.

Addressing this issue presents a significant challenge, as HCI currently lacks methods for investigating people’s experiences of Temporal Uncertainty.

To address this gap, this study posed several research questions:
What is needed within a Toolkit to support people and designers in exploring times that create uncertainty?

This question led to the development of a toolkit and method.

What notions and scenarios of uncertainty do people and designers want to design for?

This question advanced our understanding of the temporal experiences that create uncertainty.
What tools and solutions do people and designers come up with when using the toolkit?

The co-designed interventions that followed revealed the types of tools that participants desired to support them in expressing Temporal Uncertainty.

The study yielded novel insights into designing for Temporal Uncertainty.

While participants experienced similar types of uncertainty, their subjective contexts often differed.

This meant that, although thematically similar, each participant required a unique design intervention.

This insight suggests that, in order to advance our understanding and design of uncertainty, HCI researchers should avoid generalising dichotomies of uncertainty, such as embracing or reducing it.

The research contributions highlight the complexity of designing for uncertainty when taking into account the temporal subjectivity of individuals.

However, by representing individual needs and experiences of uncertainty, inclusion can be expanded through the development of more tools, features, and design outputs that support people when they experience Temporal Uncertainty.

To answer the research questions and obtain the findings, this thesis accomplished the following:

1) Conducted semi-structured interviews to uncover how social uses of time could exclude people with CFS;

2) Used speculative probes to explore how others might benefit from communicating Temporal Uncertainty;

3) Developed a methodological toolkit, including a workshop and an uncertainty language, to facilitate reflection and speculation on times of uncertainty;

4) Co-designed interventions that were tailored to the subjective experiences of participants’ uncertainty;

and

5) Provided designers with the option to use the toolkit to speculate about potential users’ moments of uncertainty

This thesis underscores the significance of Temporal Uncertainty tools in promoting inclusion and advancing the design of uncertainty in HCI.

It is the author’s hope that the knowledge, findings, materials, methods, and tools presented in this work will inspire HCI designers to explore Temporal Uncertainty as a means of expanding inclusive design.

URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1842/42276

http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/4996
Collections

• Informatics thesis and dissertation collection

 

[hotblack]

Here’s an AI generated audio summary of the paper:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZduWi0ZTdhxTQF6uuVEGoFdlRdTqL2VkeIy

So I don’t completely derail discussions of the papers please post any feedback on these audio summaries to this thread:
https://www.s4me.info/threads/enhan...h-technology-feedback-and-ideas-wanted.40207/

This doctoral thesis, "Enhancing Inclusivity in Human-Computer Interaction through the Implementation of Temporal Uncertainty Tools," explores how technology can better support people who experience uncertainty related to time, particularly those with chronic health conditions.

The thesis begins by investigating the experiences of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS. CFS is a complex condition characterized by persistent fatigue, cognitive difficulties, pain, and other symptoms. A key finding from interviews with individuals with CFS was the significant challenge they faced in social situations and work due to the unpredictable nature of their health and the rigid expectations of time in these environments. For example, participants described feeling pressured to commit to events they might not be able to attend due to fluctuating health. This led to social isolation, anxiety, and financial instability.

Based on these findings, the author developed a set of design guidelines to help create tools that are more flexible and accommodating to the temporal uncertainties experienced by people with CFS, and potentially others who face similar challenges.

The research then expanded to explore the concept of "Temporal Uncertainty" in a broader context. The author created a speculative design probe called "Haze," a digital calendar that allows users to express uncertainty about the time, place, or attendance of events. Studies with Haze revealed that people without CFS also felt judged for being uncertain about their availability, often leading them to conceal their uncertainty. However, participants saw Haze as a positive intervention, suggesting that tools that normalize uncertainty could promote empathy and inclusivity.

To further investigate the design of Temporal Uncertainty tools, the author developed a toolkit and workshop to help designers and participants explore and understand their experiences of uncertainty. The toolkit uses a series of cards, tokens, and themes to help people reflect on and dimensionalize their temporal uncertainty, uncovering both conscious and subconscious aspects. This process led to the development of various intervention concepts, including a cancer support app, a reflexive uncertainty journey tracker, and a photo map tool for coordinating childcare.

However, a speculative version of the toolkit, designed to help designers understand potential users' Temporal Uncertainty without direct user input, was less successful. Designers struggled to engage with the concept of Temporal Uncertainty and defaulted to speculating on general uncertainty, highlighting the need for more education and awareness of Temporal Uncertainty within the design community.

The thesis concludes by offering several recommendations for HCI, or Human Computer Interaction, research and design. Notably, it emphasizes the need to recognize technology's role in shaping temporal norms and to design tools that challenge dominant narratives of certainty. It also highlights the need for more interdisciplinary approaches to understanding uncertainty, drawing on insights from fields such as Crip theory and disability studies.

Limitations of the study include the small sample size and the focus on specific demographics, such as those with CFS and designers. Future work could expand on these findings by exploring Temporal Uncertainty in diverse contexts and with a wider range of user groups. Additionally, further research could explore the potential positive and negative implications of normalizing Temporal Uncertainty in various settings, such as hospitals, which rely heavily on temporal certainty for effective functioning.

Overall, this thesis makes a valuable contribution to the field of HCI by highlighting the importance of designing for Temporal Uncertainty and offering practical tools and methods to support this goal. It encourages a shift in design thinking from reducing uncertainty to understanding and embracing it as a potential resource for creativity and inclusivity.

 

[Creekside]

I'm typically uncertain of what time it is, or even what day it is. That's what happens when you live out in the woods and don't interact much with the rest of the world.

I hope this paper doesn't lead to AIs nagging people about time every few minutes.

 

[Mij]

I live in a high-rise in the city and forget what season it is sometimes.

 

[Creekside]

I wonder if this would be a harmful treatment. Not caring about time is quite relaxing. Maybe the author should be working on ways to get people to stop obsessing about time.

 

[dratalanta]

There are several activities related to managing my time commitments which usually fall to my family and which a computer could take care of. That is what I understand by introducing temporal uncertainty in HCI.

For example, I would find it useful if Teams could finalise my meetings at short notice based on my actual health and availability. Currently I often ask family for help with cancelling meetings. Where meetings have been scheduled, I’d appreciate some automation to identify what really shouldn’t be rescheduled if at all possible. When my symptoms are at the more severe end, I can’t read my diary to find out if I have commitments which would be so disruptive to cancel that I need to induce temporary lucidity with stimulants. Instead a family member ends up doing it and breaking the bad - or good - news to me. It would be good to be able to ask Siri or Cortana how much of a nuisance it’s going to be if I clear my diary so I can focus on resting.

I would also appreciate a one-click option to reset my OOO for one day only based on how I’m feeling that morning. I often don’t bother since if I’m too ill to work I’m usually too sick to set my OOO and it’s too trivial to ask my family for help.

But these needs arise because I’m in the comparatively rare position of having severe ME and still working a few hours a week, from bed, with near-complete autonomy over my schedule, working hours, workload etc. I’m also able to be open with my colleagues and partner organisations about my condition and my needs.

For many energy-limited patients tools like these would be useless, as they ultimately rely on the goodwill of others. Anything that increases my flexibility places a burden on my colleagues, who would find it inconvenient to, for example, finalise meeting times at short notice, as they too cherish long stretches of meeting-free time (albeit for different reasons) and arrange their schedules accordingly.