Emotional Communication between Remote Couples: Exploring the Design of Wearable Ambient Displays

Abstract

We explore the potential of limited vocabulary wearable ambient displays and their preferred characteristics in communicating intimacy between couples at a distance. The research comprises two studies: a co-design workshop and a field study of the design concepts generated from the co-design workshops using low-fidelity prototypes. Our findings reveal that wearable ambient displays could potentially help to increase awareness and emotional connections between couples. A limited vocabulary display is considered as a complementary channel to a smartphone, supporting the communication of subtle and lightweight messages that the sender does not necessarily expect a response to. From the user studies, we identify the preferred characteristics, as well as the potential and challenges of low vocabulary wearable ambient displays. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI); HCI design and evaluation methods; User studies.

Qude: Exploring Tactile Code in Long-Distance Relationships

“…In addition, the design of the current prototype does not explicitly reveal its purpose and intended context of use to outsiders. As demonstrated by user exploration sessions, this solution might allow for creating an intimate and exclusive form of communication, thereby supporting the findings of previous works in this field [10,12,14]. These insights should be further explored in real-life settings.…”

“…This motive also surfaced during the user explorations (User Exploration Theme 5: Envisioning future development), as participants would like to have an opportunity to assign text, music, or images to the rhythms. Prior research has suggested personalization as one of the key of designing for LDRs [12,14,19]. The participants would like their communication and overall experience of being in an LDR to be more exclusive, e.g., by having a form of code that is understandable just for the two of them (see CT 5: Transmitting subtle expressions and emotional states).…”

“…LDRs in conjunction with CMC have been extensively researched within the HCI community, especially since mainstream communication means, such as voice and video calling or texting, are unable to mediate affection and emotions at their fullest [14]. In 2012, Hassenzahl et al [6] conducted a thorough literature analysis of 143 designs for mediating intimacy in LDRs, which revealed six common design strategies.…”