Integrated Exertion—Understanding the Design of Human–Computer Integration in an Exertion Context

Abstract

Human-computer interaction (HCI) is increasingly interested in supporting exertion experiences so more people can benefit from physical activity. So far, most systems have focused on sensing and presenting information to the user via screens to support the exertion experience. Interestingly, emerging technology can also act on the exerting user's body based on sensed information, granting researchers the potential to develop technology that not only “presents” but also “acts” on information throughout an integrated exertion experience. As a result, design opportunities surrounding computing machinery as contextually aware exertion partners are now available. However, there are currently no frameworks to guide the design of human-computer integration in an exertion context. To contribute to closing this gap, we designed three eBike systems to investigate different forms of integration with the exerting user and we studied the resulting user experiences. Based on the results of these three case studies, we present the first framework, including associated design tactics, to offer guidance on how to design human-computer integration in an exertion context.

Exploration of design methods and tools for virtual, augmented and mixed reality

“…In the growing prevalence of pervasive digital technology into our daily lives, we see the emergence of computing systems that can sense, interpret, and automatically act on body-based signals, giving 'the system the opportunity to act on the experience alongside the user without needing user input' [1]. Although the concept of human-computer integration has been known for decades [11] it is only now entering a new evolutionary phase, which leads to a paradigm shift in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), from interaction to the integration of computing devices with the human body [7].…”

THE BODY CAN NOT BE THOUGHT: design practice at the intersection of human-computer integration and critical disability studies to develop new paradigms for health and well-being

“…Current developments in the field of Human-Computer Integration (HInt) (Mueller et al, 2020) shift the focus away from the 'stimulus-response' model of HCI towards integral relationships between humans and computers (Danry et al, 2021), that have the potential to fundamentally alter human characteristics and abilities through computing systems (Andres, 2023). The paradigm shift towards HInt can be seen as a continuum from interaction to integration, which extends but does not replace the HCI field (Farooq & Grudin, 2017).…”

“…These relationships between humans and computers revolve around symbiotic partnerships between humans and computers (Semertzidis et al, 2022), which means that the relationships exist upon interdependence, focusing on 'complex relations of trust, respect, dependence and communication' (Wolfe, 2010), rather than putting the emphasis on values of agency, ownership, and autonomy. An example of such a scenario is the bodily integration with 'computing systems that can sense, interpret, and automatically act to body-based and contextual signals' (Andres, 2023). Designing for the 'webs of asymmetrical relationships' (Shildrick, 2022) in bodily integrated systems (Mueller et al, 2021) requires a deep understanding of micro-biologies, (bio)assemblages, or phenomenology of organ and tissue (Shildrick, 2022).…”