Enhancing inclusivity in human-computer interaction through the implementation of temporal uncertainty tools
Creators: name: Bowler, Ryan David
Publisher: name: The University of Edinburgh
Year: 2024
Subjects: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Temporal Uncertainty tools
temporal subjectivity
social uses of time
inclusive design

description: This doctoral study explores how Temporal Uncertainty tools can enhance inclusion in HCI. It proposes that HCI should design tools that accommodate individuals’ diverse and uncertain temporalities. It argues that dominant concepts of time can exclude people who experience time differently, drawing on theoretical and empirical work from social sciences. It focuses on the social aspects of time in relation to health experiences, and how they shape and are shaped by uncertainty. The core argument of this thesis emerged early in the research process when studying people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The findings show that health uncertainty can clash with social norms of time, leading to exclusion. This is reflected in the research question: In what ways do people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome experience time with regard to health and social interaction? Participants with CFS reported that the pressure to conform to rigid social and professional interactions, despite their uncertain health, was problematic and compromised their well-being. This often resulted in social exclusion. Building on the research with CFS individuals, this study expanded its scope to explore Temporal Uncertainty more broadly. A key question that guided this exploration was: What insights are produced from a broader audience when given the ability to communicate uncertainty? To answer this question, a speculative probe named HAZE was created based on design guidelines from the CFS study. HAZE was deployed with a wider audience to encourage participatory speculation and allow people to communicate and remain in uncertainty. The findings revealed a significant demand for tools that facilitate the expression of uncertainty. Participants indicated that uncertainty is not commonly accepted in society, and tools like HAZE could help normalise the experience, improve health outcomes, and foster empathy. This thesis critiques the lack of attention given to the exclusion experienced by individuals who do not have access to tools that support the expression of uncertainty in HCI research. Addressing this issue presents a significant challenge, as HCI currently lacks methods for investigating people’s experiences of Temporal Uncertainty. To address this gap, this study posed several research questions: What is needed within a Toolkit to support people and designers in exploring times that create uncertainty? This question led to the development of a toolkit and method. What notions and scenarios of uncertainty do people and designers want to design for? This question advanced our understanding of the temporal experiences that create uncertainty. What tools and solutions do people and designers come up with when using the toolkit? The co-designed interventions that followed revealed the types of tools that participants desired to support them in expressing Temporal Uncertainty. The study yielded novel insights into designing for Temporal Uncertainty. While participants experienced similar types of uncertainty, their subjective contexts often differed. This meant that, although thematically similar, each participant required a unique design intervention. This insight suggests that, in order to advance our understanding and design of uncertainty, HCI researchers should avoid generalising dichotomies of uncertainty, such as embracing or reducing it. The research contributions highlight the complexity of designing for uncertainty when taking into account the temporal subjectivity of individuals. However, by representing individual needs and experiences of uncertainty, inclusion can be expanded through the development of more tools, features, and design outputs that support people when they experience Temporal Uncertainty. To answer the research questions and obtain the findings, this thesis accomplished the following: 1) Conducted semi-structured interviews to uncover how social uses of time could exclude people with CFS; 2) Used speculative probes to explore how others might benefit from communicating Temporal Uncertainty; 3) Developed a methodological toolkit, including a workshop and an uncertainty language, to facilitate reflection and speculation on times of uncertainty; 4) Co-designed interventions that were tailored to the subjective experiences of participants’ uncertainty; and 5) Provided designers with the option to use the toolkit to speculate about potential users’ moments of uncertainty This thesis underscores the significance of Temporal Uncertainty tools in promoting inclusion and advancing the design of uncertainty in HCI. It is the author’s hope that the knowledge, findings, materials, methods, and tools presented in this work will inspire HCI designers to explore Temporal Uncertainty as a means of expanding inclusive design.