Exploring the Acceptability and Adoption of Proximate Technological Futures through Design Fiction as Breaching Experiment

Core Concepts

Design fiction can be configured as breaching experiments to surface the taken-for-granted background expectancies that impact the acceptability and adoption of future technologies in everyday life.

Abstract

The paper presents an interdisciplinary approach that leverages design fiction as breaching experiment to understand the acceptability and adoption challenges confronting future and emerging technologies. The authors first outline the problem of the future in HCI, noting that the field is dominated by a vision of the proximate future and pragmatic projections of technological innovations that often fail to account for the mundane complexity of everyday life. Usability evaluation has been the primary focus, but this can be harmful as it locks HCI into considerations of utility rather than the broader question of acceptability and adoption. The authors then explicate their theoretical perspective, drawing on design fiction and breaching experiments. Design fiction is presented as a way to prototype proximate futures by embedding speculations about future technologies in recognizable social scenes and mundane experiences. This helps surface the background expectancies that shape the acceptability and adoption of future technologies. Breaching experiments, originating in ethnomethodology, are a method for making these normally tacit and taken-for-granted background expectancies visible by deliberately disrupting or "breaching" them. The authors hypothesize that by configuring design fiction as breaching experiments, it is possible to provoke the common sense reasoning and background expectancies that underpin the acceptability and adoption of future technologies in everyday life. They then present a concrete case study, "Experiencing the Future Mundane", which demonstrates this approach in practice. The case involves a mobile platform that embeds a proximate technological future in the mundane social scene of watching TV, using a range of smart technologies to create an immersive and adaptive media experience. This hybrid assemblage is designed to call into question the taken-for-granted ways in which everyday life is expected to work, in order to surface the background expectancies that shape the acceptability and adoption of the envisioned future technologies. The paper makes a methodological contribution to HCI, proposing a novel approach that combines design fiction and breaching experiments to better understand the acceptability and adoption challenges facing future technologies before they are fully developed and deployed.

Stats

"All designers have to grapple with the unknowability of the future. Objects that are designed here and now will come into use at some future under conditions their creator can neither know nor control … even the most mundane of acts can unravel if expected outcomes are not met." "usability evaluation … can be ineffective and even harmful … it can mute creative ideas … quash what could have been an inspired vision … and incorrectly suggest a design's scientific worthiness rather than offer a meaningful critique of how it would be adopted and used in everyday practice." "The member of society uses background expectancies as a scheme of interpretation. With their use actual appearances are for him [or her] recognisable and intelligible as the appearances-of-familiar events. Demonstrably he is responsive to this background, while at the same time he has little or nothing to say."

Quotes

"All designers have to grapple with the unknowability of the future. Objects that are designed here and now will come into use at some future under conditions their creator can neither know nor control … even the most mundane of acts can unravel if expected outcomes are not met." "usability evaluation … can be ineffective and even harmful … it can mute creative ideas … quash what could have been an inspired vision … and incorrectly suggest a design's scientific worthiness rather than offer a meaningful critique of how it would be adopted and used in everyday practice." "The member of society uses background expectancies as a scheme of interpretation. With their use actual appearances are for him [or her] recognisable and intelligible as the appearances-of-familiar events. Demonstrably he is responsive to this background, while at the same time he has little or nothing to say."

Key Insights Distilled From

Design Fiction as Breaching Experiment: An Interdisciplinary Methodology for Understanding the Acceptability and Adoption of Future Technologies

by Andy Crabtre... at arxiv.org 05-07-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.02337.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How might design fiction as breaching experiment be applied to other domains beyond HCI, such as policy development or urban planning, to surface the taken-for-granted assumptions that shape the acceptability and adoption of future visions?

Design fiction as a breaching experiment can be applied to various domains beyond HCI to uncover hidden assumptions and expectations that influence the acceptance and adoption of future visions. In policy development, for example, this methodology could be used to simulate the implementation of new policies or regulations in a controlled environment. By deliberately introducing disruptions or anomalies, policymakers can observe how individuals react and adapt, revealing underlying beliefs and values that may impact the success of the proposed policies. Similarly, in urban planning, design fiction as a breaching experiment could help city planners understand how residents perceive and interact with proposed changes to the urban environment. By creating immersive experiences that challenge conventional norms, planners can gather valuable insights into community preferences and concerns, ultimately leading to more informed and inclusive decision-making processes.

What are the ethical considerations and potential risks of using design fiction as a breaching experiment to deliberately disrupt people's expectations and background assumptions about everyday life?

When using design fiction as a breaching experiment to disrupt people's expectations and assumptions, several ethical considerations must be taken into account. Firstly, there is a risk of causing distress or discomfort to participants if the disruptions are too extreme or unexpected. It is essential to ensure that individuals are fully informed about the nature of the experiment and provide their consent to participate. Additionally, researchers must consider the potential psychological impact of challenging deeply held beliefs or values and take steps to mitigate any negative consequences. Furthermore, there is a risk of unintentionally reinforcing stereotypes or biases through the design of the experiment. Care must be taken to avoid perpetuating harmful narratives or promoting discriminatory attitudes. Researchers should strive to create inclusive and respectful experiences that prioritize the well-being and dignity of all participants.

How could the insights gained from design fiction as a breaching experiment be effectively translated into the design and development of future technologies to better address the challenges of acceptability and adoption?

The insights obtained from design fiction as a breaching experiment can be valuable in informing the design and development of future technologies to enhance their acceptability and adoption. By uncovering hidden assumptions and expectations through immersive experiences, designers can gain a deeper understanding of user needs and preferences. This knowledge can then be integrated into the design process to create technologies that align more closely with users' values and behaviors. Additionally, the disruptions and challenges introduced during the experiment can highlight potential pitfalls or barriers to adoption that may not have been apparent initially. Designers can use this information to anticipate user concerns and proactively address them in the development process. By incorporating user feedback and insights from the breaching experiment, technology developers can create more user-centered and culturally sensitive solutions that are more likely to be accepted and adopted in real-world settings.