Sociomaterial Quasi-objects: From Interface to Experience

Abstract

Abstract:In this paper, I examine design practices by contrasting the Cartesian view of separation with an ontological perspective and argue for a dynamic, multiple, and entangled world (namely, sociomateriality). In the digital era we live in, sociomateriality helps move design practices forward in order to embrace constant changes and reconfigurations. The word interface manifests a worldview of separation. Researchers typically conceive an interface as belonging to an artifact; that is, the technology, the material. More so, [people] typically considers user interfaces as the layer that separates and connects the technology and the user, which enables interaction. I recognize the limitations of the well-established perspective of interface design and contrast two traditional HCI concepts (namely, usability and context) from a Cartesian versus a sociomaterial perspective. However, to embrace and capitalize on the emergent digital reality, we need a new vocabulary. I introduce helpful concepts that one can use when designing and talking about experiences, and I ground the concepts in a sociomaterial ontological perspective. The concepts and design approach presented in this paper invite and encourage researchers to focus on experiences as sociomaterial entanglements and re-configurations and not as separated social and material entities. By using Michel Serres ' (1980) term quasi-objects, I call attention to the complexity of sociomaterial entanglements that make up experiences and emphasize a holistic and inclusive design approach. In addition, introducing sociomaterial concepts, such as agential cuts and intra-actions, into the human-computer interaction domain invites researchers to think and act in new ways in the era of digitalized experiences. I examine the benefits of the sociomaterial design approach and present practical guidelines on how to approach experiential design with a sociomaterial take.

The Aesthetics of Encounter: A Relational-Performative Design Approach to Human-Robot Interaction

“…Agential enactment and its social effects play an important discursive role in science and technology studies (see Suchman, 2007a ; Alač, 2015 ; Jones, 2018 ) and cognitive anthropology (see Malafouris, 2013 ) and gain influence in human-computer interaction research (see Wright, 2011 ; Hylving, 2017 ; Frauenberger, 2019 ). This article argues that the transformative potential of interaction dynamics opens up rich opportunities for how we relate to robots and brings with it new pathways and challenges for how we approach human-robot interaction design.…”