Tracing Conceptions of the Body in HCI: From User to More-Than-Human

Title of the Paper

Tracing Conceptions of the Body in HCI: From User to More-Than-Human

Paper Information

• Field of Study: Evolution of body concepts in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Keywords: Embodied interaction design, body concepts, bodily datafication, multispecies symbiosis, posthumanism, gender equality, data ethics, fourth-wave HCI, interaction design theory

Research Background and Problem

• Identified Problems or Challenges: The concept of the body in HCI has undergone significant evolution, transitioning from the simplified notion of the "user" to the complex embodied "body," and now to the even more intricate "multiple bodies" and "more-than-human bodies." This conceptual shift introduces new technical and ethical challenges for design methodologies and theories.
• Importance of the Problem: Advances in technology (e.g., wearable devices, data monitoring, self-quantification) compel researchers and designers to rethink the definition of the "body," which is critical for designing technology in a more equitable and ethical manner.
• Research Motivation: This paper aims to present the evolution of the concept of the "body" in HCI from the "user" to the "more-than-human" perspective, exploring the potential impact of these changes on design practices, ethics, and technology, while providing a theoretical framework for reference.

Proposed Solution

• Proposed Solution: The paper introduces a structured narrative arc summarizing the evolution of the "body" into three stages:
  1. From "user" to "body";
  2. From "body" to "multiple bodies";
  3. From "multiple bodies" to "more-than-human bodies."
• Innovative Contributions:
  • Challenges the traditional, simplified "single user" concept in HCI design.
  • Incorporates critical thinking and new theories such as posthumanism and material "entanglement theories" to broaden the perspective of design methodologies.
  • Provides specific design recommendations to guide researchers and designers in practice.
• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:
  1. From User to Single Body: Employ phenomenological methods (e.g., Merleau-Ponty's philosophy of the body) and experiential design techniques (e.g., performative design or sensory training).
  2. From Single Body to Multiple Bodies: Integrate perspectives on diversity and intersectionality (e.g., the intersection of gender, race, and ability) and develop technologies that support data-driven health management.
  3. From Multiple Bodies to More-Than-Human Bodies: Introduce posthumanist theories, emphasizing the entanglement of humans and non-humans (e.g., technological devices, biodiversity).

Research Outcomes

Key Findings

• Theoretical Summary: Proposes a three-stage conceptual evolution of the "body" in HCI (User → Body → Multiple Bodies → More-Than-Human Bodies).
• Practical Recommendations: Offers the following five design recommendations:
  1. Emphasize the embodied experience of users as "perceptive and active bodies."
  2. Clearly distinguish and disclose the body concepts and assumptions involved in design.
  3. Foster designers' sensitivity to intersectionality (opposing universalized definitions of the body).
  4. Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with fields such as dance, therapy, and bodily practices.
  5. Adopt a "more-than-human" definition of the body, rethinking design through ethical and political lenses.

Advantages Over Existing Solutions

• Expands existing design frameworks from narrow user experience design to a more complex integration of the "politicized body."
• Offers interdisciplinary integration capabilities, connecting with exploratory fields such as social sciences, new materialism, and posthumanism.

Experimental or Evaluation Results

• The paper is based on theoretical and design case studies rather than comprehensive empirical experiments, but supports the feasibility of its theories through cross-disciplinary literature analysis and the authors' academic expertise.

Limitations and Future Directions

• Limitations:
  • The "more-than-human" perspective of fourth-wave HCI is still emerging, and specific design tools and methods lack extensive validation.
  • The practical operability of design ethics and politics requires further refinement.
• Future Research Directions:
  • Develop specific design methods to help creators better apply theories of "intersectionality" and "entanglement."
  • Provide more detailed metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of multispecies collaboration and bodily politics.
  • Explore how to internalize ethics, intersectionality, and posthumanist concepts in design education.