Designing Touch Technologies for and with Bodies in Menstrual Discomfort

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Problems and Challenges:

  • Menstrual discomfort is a common, complex, and cyclical bodily experience. However, in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), related technologies often treat it as a data point rather than a subject of design and care.
  • Current medical and technological systems tend to overlook the real-time perception and support of menstrual discomfort, treating it merely as evidence for prediction or post-analysis, while neglecting the diversity and personalization of menstrual experiences.
  • In the workplace, menstrual discomfort is often rendered invisible, lacking appropriate care mechanisms. This is closely tied to the productivity-first logic of societal culture, further suppressing the possibility of self-care during menstruation.

• Significance:

  • Menstrual discomfort not only impacts individual physical health and psychological well-being but also highlights societal biases against women and the subjectification of menstruation, revealing underlying power structures.
  • Exploring how to address bodily discomfort through haptic technology can enrich HCI theories and practices related to the design of pain and discomfort, offering new perspectives for perception and care technologies.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Current technologies addressing female discomfort, such as menstrual pain, primarily focus on data tracking and short-term physiological relief (e.g., heat therapy, muscle stimulation), lacking support for long-term experiences and specific bodily interactions in daily life.
  • This study is inspired by Soma Design and feminist theories (particularly feminist disability studies), aiming to use bodily discomfort as a design material. Together with participants, it explores how haptic technology can care for and reframe the experience of menstrual discomfort.

Proposed Solution

• Proposed Methods and Solutions:

  • Designed a set of tactile probe tools called “Touchware,” which provide bodily and tactile interaction experiences through pneumatic deformation and weight distribution.
  • Developed a set of haptic technologies for caring for menstrual discomfort using a Participatory Soma Design approach, integrating diverse life experiences and feminist critical perspectives.

• Innovations:

  • For the first time in the HCI field, designed haptic technologies targeting real-time menstrual discomfort experiences rather than post-analysis or predictive applications.
  • Explored the potential of haptics in addressing the continuity and diffusivity of pain, encouraging participants to better understand and accept their bodily discomfort through autonomous exploration behaviors stimulated by touch.
  • Advanced the application of haptic technology in workplace care scenarios, discussing how haptic devices can promote a culture of “radical normalization of rest.”

• Implementation Steps:

  • Two rounds of Soma Design workshops:
    1. The first workshop explored menstrual discomfort experiences and potential tactile solutions.
    2. The second workshop experimented with specific tactile qualities using low-fidelity materials, such as deep pressure, gentle touch, and pneumatic deformation.
  • Probe tool design and production: Three tactile devices were designed to provide localized deep touch, gentle wrapping sensations, and broad pressure tactile experiences.
  • Deployment study: Conducted a two-week small-scale deployment study where six participants used the probes in real-time within their work environments, documenting their discomfort and tactile interaction logs.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Findings:

  • Developed three types of tactile probes for alleviating menstrual discomfort, offering diverse tactile experiences such as targeted deep touch, wide-range gentle touch, and deep pressure.
  • Identified that menstrual discomfort exhibits characteristics of “diffusivity” and “lingering,” reshaping the definition of menstrual pain and discomfort.
  • Enabled participants to enhance bodily awareness, practice self-care through haptic devices, and reduce reliance on medication and external support.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions:

  • Unlike tools that focus solely on collecting and recording physiological data to address pain points, Touchware emphasizes real-time experiential interaction, inspiring individuals to pay attention to and reflect on their bodily states.
  • Provided a practical care model, bridging the gap between technological haptic simulation and emotional tactile needs.
  • In workplace scenarios, haptic technology and designated rest spaces further promoted social acceptance and systemic support for bodily discomfort in professional environments.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Most participants gained new insights into “menstrual discomfort” through the probe devices and established self-care behaviors. They reported feeling soothed, calm, and reconsidered the possibility of coexisting with pain.
  • Highlighted the advantages of probes with “deformation” and “adjustability” in alleviating discomfort, while also revealing the potential burden of over-reliance on adaptive technologies.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations:
    • Small-scale participant sample, primarily focused on high-education workplace settings, with limited cultural and societal generalizability.
    • Some devices remain experimental, requiring further validation of technological durability and social acceptance.
  • Future Directions:
    • Expand research to diverse cultural and social groups to explore broader approaches to caring for menstrual discomfort.
    • Enhance the automation and adaptability of haptic models, integrating thermal or other sensory technologies to further improve user experience.
    • Investigate how haptic devices can promote the destigmatization of menstruation and team support systems in public spaces such as industrial workplaces.

Through this study, the research team has transcended traditional data- or medication-centric technological solutions, pioneering the design and HCI fields by providing haptic technological support for “painful, cyclical menstrual discomfort.” This work opens new pathways for integrating body-centric technology, social care, and feminist design.