A Dot on the Map: Co-Designing for Technological and Social Disconnection on an Arctic Expedition

Paper Title

A Dot on the Map: Co-Designing for Technological and Social Disconnection on an Arctic Expedition

Publication Info

• Topic area: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and social connection technology in remote contexts.
• Keywords: Arctic expedition, digital disconnection, social connection, co-design workshop, remote environments, Slow Technology, Calm Computing, sensory connection, safety and support, intentional communication.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: While social connection technology has been extensively studied, research foregrounding technological disconnection—especially in remote and unique contexts like the Arctic—is lacking. Existing technologies often prioritize rapid communication, which may not align with the needs of individuals experiencing temporary digital isolation.
• Significance: Understanding the dynamics of disconnection can inform the design of tools that better support intentional and meaningful connection, both in everyday life and during periods of temporary isolation.
• Motivation and related work: Prior research has explored social connection technology, rural and remote social connection, and isolation in Arctic and Antarctic regions. However, these studies have not sufficiently addressed the benefits and challenges of temporary digital disconnection, nor have they explored how such conditions can inspire thoughtful design.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A co-design workshop conducted aboard an Arctic expedition to explore participants' social and digital connection needs during temporary disconnection and inform future design for social connection technology.
• Novelty:
  1. Investigating the impact of temporary but prolonged digital disconnection on social dynamics.
  2. Identifying design opportunities for lightweight, sensory-rich, and intentional connection technologies.
  3. Highlighting the paradox between desires for unobtrusive and deliberate connection.
  4. Proposing safeguards and preparatory tools for disconnection scenarios.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • A 90-minute co-design workshop with 13 participants aboard the ship.
  • Participants sketched ideas for connection technologies and discussed their experiences of disconnection.
  • Thematic analysis of workshop transcripts and sketches to identify patterns and themes.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Participants valued being present in the moment and appreciated the rarity of remoteness and disconnection.
  • There was a desire to shift expectations for response speed and foster slower, more meaningful communication.
  • Safety and support were critical concerns, with participants expressing the need for unobtrusive safeguards during disconnection.
  • Participants adapted to disconnection by changing habits and reflecting on past norms of communication.
  • Sensory and physical elements of connection, such as sharing smells or tactile experiences, were highly desired.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • The study highlights unique needs and design opportunities for connection technologies in remote and disconnected contexts, which are underexplored in existing research.
  • It emphasizes the importance of balancing unobtrusive and deliberate connection methods, addressing gaps in mainstream social connection technologies.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Participants were 13 women aged 27–66 (M = 44.9, SD = 11.3) from four nationalities.
  • The workshop included sketching, group discussions, and thematic analysis using NVIVO software.
  • Themes developed include Fully Experiencing Rarity of Remoteness and Disconnection, Slowing Down Digital Connection, Connection for Safety and Support, Preparing for and Adapting to Disconnection, and Connection Beyond Words.
• Limitations and future work:
  • The study focuses on temporary disconnection during an Arctic voyage, which may not generalize to permanent disconnection scenarios or other remote contexts.
  • Future research could explore longer periods of disconnection, cultural shifts in communication norms, and safeguards for disconnection in diverse settings.

Summary

This paper investigates the dynamics of technological and social disconnection during a 15-day Arctic expedition, using a co-design workshop with 13 participants to explore connection needs and inspire thoughtful design. Key findings include the value of being present, the desire for slower and more intentional communication, and the importance of unobtrusive safeguards for safety and support. The study proposes design implications such as leveraging environmental data for passive connection, shifting expectations around communication speed, and preparing for disconnection. By focusing on disconnection, the research contributes to the broader HCI discourse on designing technologies that prioritize meaningful and deliberate social connection.