Cyborg Assemblages: how autistic adults construct sociotechnical networks to support cognitive function

Title of the Paper

"Cyborg Assemblages: How autistic adults construct sociotechnical networks to support cognitive function"

Bibliographic Information

• Subject Areas: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Neurodiversity, Assistive Technology Design
• Keywords: Digital Ethnography, Autism, Executive Function, Critical Disability Studies, Design Justice, HCI Design, Sociotechnical Ecology

Research Background and Problem Statement

• Identified Issues or Challenges:

  • Current HCI research often fails to fully utilize participatory methods, lacking direct involvement of disabled individuals, particularly autistic adults. Research designs frequently prioritize the needs of parents, therapists, or educators over the genuine needs of autistic users.
  • Executive function impairments are particularly prominent among autistic individuals, affecting daily living skills and adaptive functioning.
  • Technology products often aim to "correct neurodiversity" rather than support the independence and potential of autistic individuals.

• Significance:

  • Executive function is central to cognitive activities such as planning, task initiation, persistence, and completion, significantly impacting daily adaptation and effectiveness in work or study.
  • Designing technologies that directly assist autistic adults can reduce the challenges they face in daily life, enhancing their autonomy and social interaction capabilities.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • In the HCI domain, existing research on executive function support has focused on technological interventions for children; however, there is a scarcity of studies addressing adults.
  • Recent studies suggest that principles of design justice and perspectives from "autistic culture" can provide new directions for technology research and design.

Proposed Solution

• Proposed Approach:

  • Employ digital ethnographic methods to conduct asynchronous text-based interviews with autistic adults, collecting first-hand accounts of how they use technology to address executive function challenges.
  • Treat participants' daily practices as part of a sociotechnical network, analyzing how unique cognitive support strategies (e.g., interactions, visual prompts) are formed.

• Innovative Contributions:

  • Introduce the "Cyborg Assemblages" theory, advocating for the view that the synergy between humans and technology constitutes a significant extension of skills and cognitive functions.
  • Emphasize the principle of "design justice," prioritizing the voices of affected groups and treating their experiences as expert insights.

• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:

  • Recruit autistic adults and collect narrative data through asynchronous, text-based interviews.
  • Conduct in-depth analysis using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and the Cooperative Interactions Framework.
  • Organize raw data into common strategies and typical patterns of using technology for support (e.g., visual prompts, social mutual aid).

Research Outcomes

• Specific Findings:

  • Identified strategies frequently used by autistic adults to address executive function challenges, including:

    • Establishing clear rules and routines.
    • Using visual prompts and physical adjustments in the execution environment.
    • Sensory regulation (e.g., sensory support tools).
    • Online social interactions and mutual aid networks.

  • Proposed new directions for designing executive function support technologies: technologies should avoid introducing additional cognitive burdens and respect users' autonomy and customization needs.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions:

  • Prioritizes user experience over "standardizing" user issues through technological intervention, contrasting sharply with many existing solutions.
  • Places greater emphasis on integrating technology with social networks to provide multi-layered support.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Data indicates that simple, user-customized tools (e.g., headphones, visual reminders) are more easily accepted and effective.
  • Autistic individuals forming "mutual aid networks" helps overcome executive function challenges in daily life.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations: Most participants were white, non-male individuals, indicating a lack of racial and gender diversity; the design of technological devices still needs to consider accessibility for low-income groups.
  • Future Directions: Design technologies that support social interaction and mutual aid, such as applications that facilitate task-sharing or planning among users; focus on cross-cultural applicability and the cost of technology.

This study provides valuable insights into promoting the participation of disabled groups in technology design and enhancing technological accessibility. It also offers new design ideas for addressing executive function challenges across various user groups.