No Pie in the (Digital) Sky: Co-Imagining the Food Metaverse

Title of the Paper

No Pie in the (Digital) Sky: Co-Imagining the Food Metaverse

Paper Information

• Research Domain: Human-Computer Interaction, the relationship between food and technology, metaverse design
• Keywords: Metaverse, food, human-computer interaction, speculative design, co-design

Research Background and Issues

• Identified Issues or Challenges:

  1. The rise of the metaverse is transforming people's daily lifestyles, yet the significance of food—an indispensable part of daily life—within virtual environments remains underexplored.
  2. Existing food experiences in the metaverse are predominantly focused on commercialization and marketing, neglecting the complex connections between food and the body, society, and culture.
  3. Technological advancements may further alienate our relationship with food, emphasizing consumption over production and disregarding environmental and cultural contexts.

• Significance:
  Food encompasses not only sensory experiences but also social, emotional, environmental, and cultural values. Redefining the role of technology can improve personal relationships with food, fostering more sustainable and healthier eating practices.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:
  This study aims to redefine food experiences through metaverse technologies and explore how these experiences can reconnect people with social, cultural, and bodily practices related to food. Existing research primarily focuses on efficiency, with limited attention to social bonds or cultural heritage.

Proposed Solutions

• Proposed Approach:
  The authors propose a co-design-based research methodology, involving users in the design process to explore potential food experiences in the metaverse.

• Innovative Contributions:

  1. Highlighting metaverse technology as a tool rather than merely a marketing platform, reexamining its positive impact on the human-food relationship.
  2. Introducing a framework of 18 key food-related elements to guide the development of meaningful food experiences in the metaverse.
  3. Designing and showcasing five metaverse food directions and related case studies, bridging theoretical concepts with practical design.

• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:

  1. Design Phase:
     • Conduct co-design workshops to gather insights into people's food experiences and visions for metaverse applications.
     • Analyze data to extract 18 key food-related elements valued by users.
  2. Concept Development Phase:
     • Design five metaverse food directions based on user visions and the 18 elements, illustrated through specific design concepts.
  3. Discussion and Validation Phase:
     • Use design concepts as discussion prompts, interviewing experts to collect feedback on the design directions and identify potential issues.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Results:

  1. 18 Key Food-Related Elements:
     • These include connecting with others (e.g., communal dining, finding food communities), connecting with oneself (e.g., mindful eating, sensory engagement with food), focusing on food systems (e.g., enhancing food sustainability and cultural connections), and comfort and enjoyment (e.g., cooking for entertainment).
  2. Five Design Directions and Case Studies:
     • Examples include fostering virtual hybrid social spaces, challenging mainstream food systems, redefining aesthetic practices of eating, emphasizing food as a journey of cultural and community discovery, and offering escapist food experiences from daily realities.
  3. User and Expert Feedback:
     • Discussions with users and experts validated the applicability of the design concepts, while also identifying potential risks and limitations of metaverse applications.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions and Advantages:
  Compared to current metaverse food experiences focused on consumption or marketing, the authors' design philosophy prioritizes social, cultural, and human development needs, emphasizing user autonomy and diverse experiences.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  1. User participation in co-design workshops provided in-depth feedback and creative ideas regarding food experiences.
  2. Expert interviews confirmed the academic value and potential societal impact of the design directions, while identifying risks and limitations inherent to metaverse technologies.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations:
    • Metaverse technology is still in its infancy, and many concepts remain impractical.
    • Limited participation from broader user groups (e.g., non-Western societies).
    • Information and technology overload may lead to social and psychological issues, such as dependency on technology and the erosion of real-world experiences.
  • Future Directions:
    • Deepen the relationship between personalized user needs and metaverse design.
    • Explore the potential for the metaverse to facilitate real-world food production and distribution.
    • Conduct more in-depth research on potential safety and ethical concerns.

Conclusion

This study employs a co-design approach to explore five design directions for food experiences in the metaverse and extracts key elements valued by users in their daily food practices to guide future metaverse technology development. The authors also highlight potential social risks associated with metaverse applications, advocating for more responsible and human-centered technology design.