Learning from loseables - An exercise in critical reflection

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

There are a number of themes and descriptive categorisations of devices in HCI that act as positive common places. These include portable, wearable, and ubiquitous devices. In the this paper the category 'loseables', which includes misplaceables, forgetables and stealables, is offered as an alternative formulation of the self same devices. In a recent keynote address David Benyon proposed that HCI practitioners could utilise their own craft skill and tacit knowledge as users of devices to generate questions about design. He also suggested that there was a place for constructive criticism in relation to design that entails a role similar to that of the literary critic. The critical reflexivity method presented in this paper draws inspiration from these comments, and in combination with Philip Agre's idea of HCI as a 'critical technical practice', offers an exercise in reflective HCI. It explores the essentially contested meaning inherent in devices and, in so doing, presents not only commentary on design itself - along with the simultaneously constructive and constrictive nature of such terms - but also, and more importantly, generates questions, insights and suggestions for design.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHome-Oriented Informatics and Telematics, Proceedings
EditorsA Sloane
Place of PublicationNEW YORK
PublisherSpringer
Pages121-132
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)0-387-25178-2
Publication statusPublished - 2005
EventConference on Home-Oriented Informatics and Telematics (HOIT 2005) - York
Duration: 13 Apr 200515 Apr 2005

Conference

ConferenceConference on Home-Oriented Informatics and Telematics (HOIT 2005)
CityYork
Period13/04/0515/04/05

Keywords

  • devices
  • categorization
  • HCI

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