A Cultural Probes Study on the (Non-)Use of Digital Artefacts
Anke Dittmar, Andreas Görres · Proceedings of Mensch und Computer 2019 · 2019
The field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is primarily concerned with the design and use of digital artefacts. However, the increased penetration of digital technology into public and private life has also increased the need to better understand negative aspects of use. Studies on technology 'non-use' have the potential to challenge the 'digital imperative' and normative assumptions in HCI, but they are currently limited to the classification of individual non-use and the identification of non-users' strategies. This paper applies cultural probes to gain new perspectives on the role of active non-use and selective use in HCI design. Probe packages were designed for both users and non-users of smartphones to prompt their reflection on everyday smartphone use. The results suggest valuable differences in the way both groups perceive and reflect on the use of smartphones in everyday situations. Capturing, understanding and communicating such different perceptions and reflections is important for balanced design and appropriation processes of digital artefacts.