Exploring uncertainty in digital scheduling, and the wider implications of unrepresented temporalities in HCI

Title of the Paper

Exploring Uncertainty in Digital Scheduling, and The Wider Implications of Unrepresented Temporalities in HCI

Paper Information

• Research Domain: Expression of uncertainty and time design in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Keywords: temporal uncertainty, digital scheduling, social planning, slow time, inclusivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, empathy

Research Background and Problem Statement

• Problem or Challenge:

  • Current digital scheduling tools (e.g., Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook) assume users can definitively plan time, location, and activities, lacking support for expressing temporal uncertainty.
  • This rigid scheduling model may marginalize individuals who cannot adhere to strict time frameworks, such as those with chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Social norms or fear of misunderstanding often compel individuals to conceal their temporal uncertainty, exacerbating stress and miscommunication.

• Significance:

  • Temporal uncertainty is a universal experience, and the inability to express it can lead to social stress, misunderstandings, and exclusion.
  • Improved time tool design can foster empathy for diverse temporal experiences and enhance social inclusivity.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • The authors begin by examining how individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome manage temporal uncertainty and attempt to collaborate with others.
  • Drawing on related studies in time culture, slow technology, and "Crip time" (time experiences adapted for individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses), the authors aim to expand perspectives in designing time tools.

Proposed Solution

• Methods and Solution:

  • Introduce a conceptual tool named “Haze” that uses user interface design to help users express their temporal uncertainty and support understanding and collaboration among participants.
  • Haze includes three key features:
    1. Haze Event: Allows users to express uncertainty about time, location, and specific details within an event.
    2. Haze Days: Provides a calendar view where users can batch-set uncertain dates.
    3. Haze Widget: A mobile widget for quickly marking the certainty status of events and reminding users of related choices.

• Innovative Aspects:

  • Normalizes temporal uncertainty, enabling users to express it explicitly in digital calendars without excessive verbal communication or apologies.
  • Employs a blur visual effect to represent uncertainty, offering both convenience and metaphorical significance.
  • Aims to achieve inclusive design for broader temporal experiences through digital tools, challenging the fixed culture of certainty in existing tools.

• Implementation Steps and Techniques:

  • Conduct interviews and prototype development to explore temporal uncertainty in depth.
  • Use eight dimensions of uncertainty defined in the study (e.g., attendance feasibility, priority, difficulty in determining time and location) to guide tool design.
  • Deploy a two-phase user study (involving 21 participants) to investigate the social and ethical impacts of the design.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Findings:

  • Many individuals tend to conceal their true circumstances when facing uncertainty, primarily due to discomfort with social ethics or moral pressure.
  • The Haze tool helps users express the diversity in their experiences and enables other participants to perceive and understand uncertainty, thereby enhancing empathy.
  • The study recommends that the HCI community pay closer attention to how time and tools influence users' social interactions and psychological experiences.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions:

  • Existing scheduling tools emphasize the value of "certainty," neglecting the temporal needs and unique situations of minority groups.
  • Haze provides a normalized channel for expressing uncertainty, reframing it from being perceived as a "negative trait" to a more inclusive perspective.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Second-phase interviews revealed that participants generally felt Haze reduced their anxiety about expressing uncertainty.
  • Visualizing uncertainty not only supported individual time expression but also increased group acceptance of uncertainty.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • The study is limited to short-term and simulated environments; future research should explore its applicability and sociocultural impact in natural settings over a longer period.
  • Further investigation is needed into potential misuse risks, such as using uncertainty to conceal true reasons, and negative impacts on public event planning.
  • Future design discussions should delve deeper into balancing individual privacy protection with group collaboration needs.