Exploring Collaboration in Programming Activities with Children with Visual Impairments: a 10-Session Study in a School SettingIntroductory coding environments have been used in early education to promote computational thinking, supporting the development of cognitive, critical, and social skills. Many environments focus on individual use, which has limited benefits compared to collaborative learning. In this paper, we present the results of a 10-session study at a local primary school engaging eleven children with visual impairments and three inclusive education teachers in collaborative programming activities. Based on participants’ behavior, reactions, and feedback, we contribute an improved understanding of collaborative design in educational settings, focusing on the impact of Goals, Workspace, Interdependence, and Shared Awareness. Our main findings outline how collaboration dynamics can be shaped by asymmetric tasks, workspace proximity, and group awareness. We further discuss factors that led to a lack of investment in the shared goal and instances of unbalanced collaboration, reflecting on challenges and opportunities for designing collaborative inclusive coding kits.2025FRFilipa Rocha et al.Working together (with other people)CSCW
Reimagining Multidisciplinary Teams: Challenges and Opportunities for LLMs in Cancer MDTsMultidisciplinary teams are crucial in tailoring cancer care through collaborative decision-making involving several clinical specialties. The inherent complexity of clinical cases, the increasing abundance of unstructured textual data, and the time restrictions of professionals pose significant challenges to team coordination and patient care. This creates an opportunity for generative AI technologies, such as LLMs, to enhance collaborative work. Despite the growing interest in HCI research to explore LLMs in healthcare, we have yet to understand clinicians' perspectives on this emerging technology in multidisciplinary teams. Our work investigates the challenges, expectations and opportunities for LLMs in this context through a speculative approach. We leveraged the Futures Cone framework and conducted a qualitative study with 11 physicians from different cancer multidisciplinary teams. We contribute with an analysis of themes that emerged from individual interviews and a focus group, highlighting LLMs' potential to enhance and reshape multidisciplinary teams’ practices. In addition, we uncover concerns and coping strategies related to LLMs' adoption and provide a set of design opportunities to inform the development of technologies for LLM-enhanced multidisciplinary teams.2025SPSoraia F Paulo et al.Team Work Makes the Dream WorkCSCW
Speculating Migrant Possible Worlds through Magic MachinesMigration and technology studies increasingly recognize the importance of incorporating migrant perspectives in design processes. Speculative design methods have emerged as powerful tools for imagining alternative futures, particularly when working with marginalized communities. However, there remains a gap in understanding how to effectively engage long-term settled migrants in participatory design processes that honor their experiences and imaginative capacities. Here we show how integrating feminist care principles with speculative design methods can create more inclusive and empathetic approaches to technology design with migrant communities. Through workshops applying the "magic machines" methodology, we demonstrate how participatory speculation enables migrants to articulate their experiences, anxieties, and hopes for technological futures. Our findings reveal the importance of considering diasporic minds and cross-border connectivity in future technologies. This work provides immediate opportunities for researchers and designers to develop more inclusive approaches to speculative design while challenging dominant narratives about technological futures in migrant communities.2025VNValentina Nisi et al.Technology's Impact on (Im)migrationCSCW
Data Sins: Exploring Data Colonialism through Storytelling-Based Speculative Design PracticesData Sins explores the concept of data colonialism as an emerging phenomenon in the early 21st century, fostering a critical understanding of its implications for human autonomy. Through speculative design, the project investigates how utopian ideals in data-driven technologies obscure neocolonial practices of data production and appropriation. Grounded in a theoretical framework, the storytelling mimics historical colonialism by exposing how the intertwined political, economic, and religious powers shape data-driven rituals and artifacts. This inquiry gains particular relevance in the context of Brazil's political conservatism over the past decade, which has consolidated a union between religious moralism, authoritarianism, and economic liberalism. The research underscores the non-neutrality of data, highlighting its role in shaping creative socio-technological design practices that safeguard not only the integrity of the self but the future of democracy itself.2025FAFabio de Almeida et al.Gender & Race Issues in HCITechnology Ethics & Critical HCIDesign FictionC&C
Designing a Digital Game for Natureculture Heritage encounters Human-computer interaction (HCI) increasingly explores the role of digital games in engaging audiences with cultural heritage. While heritage games exist, few effectively inte- grate participatory, reflective, and speculative storytelling to bridge nature and culture. Moreover, existing methods of- ten lack inclusivity and fail to capture the evolving perspec- tives on heritage. Here, we show how an iterative Research through Design (RtD) approach led to the development of the Natureculture Heritage (NCH) Game, evolving from a board game to a digital platform that fosters deep engagement with Madeira’s natureculture heritage. Playtests revealed the game’s ability to enhance participation, inclusivity, and speculative storytelling through mechanics such as char- acter embodiment, multi-perspective narration, and He- ro’s Journey structuring. The study contributes to HCI and heritage research by demonstrating how digital storytell- ing games can support sustainable heritage engagement. Future directions include refining multiplayer interaction, integrating factual content, and expanding accessibility for diverse audiences.2025VNValentina Nisi et al.Serious & Functional GamesMuseum & Cultural Heritage DigitizationInteractive Narrative & Immersive StorytellingC&C
Critter Connect, wearable design for place-based & multisensory species encounters.This study presents Critter Connect, a wearable device fostering multispecies relationships in natural ecosystems. Grounded in posthuman theory and More-than-Human geography, the work responds to human-centred design limitations, which often overlook non-visual and non-linguistic modes of interaction. It also highlights the need for practical tools fostering direct, place-specific, and non-hierarchical sensory-rich engagements with other beings. This pictorial shows the device’s potential to enable spontaneous and embodied interactions between users and three species in a biodiversity-rich ecosystem through geolocation-based tactile and auditory feedback. We present a design process building on multispecies ethics and speculative methods to address ecological care, as well as a pilot study demonstrating Critter Connect’s capacity to amplify the wearer’s awareness of unseen multispecies presences and sense of connection to nature. This research contributes to HCI by offering a framework for designing ethically considerate, sensory-rich interactions with other beings, thus challenging human-centric engagement and promoting ecological cohabitation.2025MGMathilde Gouin et al.Haptic WearablesShape-Changing Interfaces & Soft Robotic MaterialsHuman-Nature Relationships (More-than-Human Design)DIS
Making Seafoam: An Autobiographical Design Journey Engaging Local Ecologies Through MakingSustainable HCI (SHCI) Researchers are increasingly attuned to environmental issues in material creation, guided by a posthumanist framework that decentres the human-maker, accounting for nonhuman agencies. Applying ‘noticing’ as a method, we sourced sea-derived matter—often dismissed as waste—to make a tangible material we call SeaFoam; to achieve this, we gathered seaweeds and oyster shells and developed methods and tools in a kitchen-laboratory makerspace. This pictorial documents a design journey that includes a Do-it-Yourself (DIY) process of agar extraction (SeaFoam’s key ingredient) and explorations with oyster powder to enrich SeaFoam’s texture. Through the first author's autobiographical Research through Design journalling, we reflect on the evolving relationship between human-makers and the ecologies of once-living matter and discuss their potential application in interactive artefacts. This work offers the DIS community an account of first-person methods combined with material-driven methodologies to enrich the possibilities of biomaterial creations for interactive applications.2025FCFernanda Soares da Costa et al.Sustainable HCIEcological Design & Green ComputingHuman-Nature Relationships (More-than-Human Design)DIS
Changing Health Goals with Personal InformaticsPeople’s health goals change as their contexts, needs, and values evolve. Personal informatics (PI) literature recognizes the importance of supporting goal change; however, little is known about how these tools can best support the changes people go through with their goals. To understand how PI are currently involved in goal change, we conducted a survey (N=80) and interview (N=10) study with people who had recently changed their health goals. Overall, we found that PI gave limited support to people during goal changes. Changes were driven by four actors (i.e., who and what influences the goal change): internal motivations, contexts, PI, and social surroundings. We further highlight five factors related to goal change (i.e., the ways in which the actors affect goal change): challenge, self-efficacy, changing priorities, learning, and enjoyment. We discuss how PI could better support people in goal change by considering different implementations and interactions of actors and factors.2025TETina Ekhtiar et al.Fitness Tracking & Physical Activity MonitoringDiet Tracking & Nutrition ManagementDIS
Designing Aging Reflection Probes to Elicit Self-Perception of Aging (SPA) Beliefs of Older Adults in IndiaAge-related transitions can influence older adults’ internalized aging beliefs, or Self-Perception of Aging (SPA). Previous studies have shown correlations between SPA and the well-being of older adults. However, there is a lack of specific tools to gain an in-depth understanding of SPA beliefs. This pictorial provides a detailed description of a probe designed to collect SPA-related insights directly from older adults. We describe the iterative co-design process of the 7-day Aging Reflection probe kit, incorporating feedback from pilot and focus group sessions with participants to refine the final design. We also highlight the design decisions made for the cultural adaptation of the probes to ensure they resonate with Indian participants. Our probe kit was instrumental in creating dialogue with participants about various aspects of SPA. Participants used the probes to refresh their memory during follow-up interviews. Insights from the probes played a critical role in conducting semi-structured interviews, advancing our understanding of how to operationalize SPA in HCI research and design.2025NKNeeta M Khanuja et al.Aging-Friendly Technology DesignParticipatory DesignDIS
Designing Biotopia: A Transmedia Experience for Natureculture Heritage and More-than-Human EntanglementsIn recent years, HCI research around post-anthropocene design has been gaining traction. Caring and inclusive stances towards more-than-humans, multispecies dialogues, and decentering the human in design are imbuing HCI and other disciplines. Similarly, critical heritage scholars have pointed to the need to re-frame heritage in light of the challenges of the Anthropocene. As part of a heritage-focused EU-funded project, we extend these efforts, thinking through collaborative research-through-design to design "Biotopia" – a transmedia experience that aims to connect museum and nature walk visitors with entangled natureculture and more-than-human heritage. We propose three Design Constructs from our exploratory phase and detail how they have informed the design of the critical heritage experience, contributing with the transmedia experience design and proposing ways of applying emerging posthuman concepts in practice. By reflecting on our process, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of designing for more-than-human heritage in a posthuman world, working towards decentered practices in HCI.2025MFMarta Ferreira et al.Sustainable HCIHuman-Nature Relationships (More-than-Human Design)Museum & Cultural Heritage DigitizationDIS
Towards Neuroqueer Spatial Justice: A Critical Literature Review of Public Space Technologies for Neurodivergent PopulationsAccess to public spaces is of the utmost importance for social cohesion, inclusion, and civic engagement. Nevertheless, a large majority of public spaces remain incredibly uncomfortable environments for neurodivergent individuals due to, for instance, the unpredictability of such spaces and the sensory stimuli within them. Smart City technologies present an exciting opportunity to improve the accessibility and enjoyment of the spaces where they are deployed by, for instance, offering users the ability to customise a space to their specific sensory needs. However, the research topic of public space technologies for neurodivergent individuals remains scattered and sparsely documented. This critical review analyses the existing domains of inquiry, contributing a theoretical framework based on Spatial Justice and Neuroqueer Technoscience and suggests future research avenues informed by this framework. We advocate for the participatory co-creation of a neurodivergent-affirming landscape of public space technologies that both support neurodivergent needs and promote neurodivergent joy.2025PPPatricia Piedade et al.University of Lisbon, Interactive Technologies Institute, LARSySCognitive Impairment & Neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia)Community Engagement & Civic TechnologyTechnology Ethics & Critical HCICHI
Digital Technologies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: a Systematic Review, Critical Reflections, and Future Research DirectionsDigital technologies in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) have the potential to support the development and well-being of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children. Yet, there has yet to be a systematic review of the field. A shared understanding of current research is needed to develop a future vision. In this review, we analyzed 42 papers from the ACM Digital Library and the top 20 HCI Conferences and Journals, spanning the past 24 years, to investigate the trends, methods, and the level of inclusion of DHH children. Our review reveals that sign language learning platforms dominate the current technological effort. Moreover, children are not yet fully involved in the design process of these technologies and are mostly considered users and testers. We also capture a gap in integrating Deaf culture and child development in prior research. We conclude by critically examining literature gaps and offering guidance for future research.2025JZJing Zhao et al.Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, ITI / LARSySDeaf & Hard-of-Hearing Support (Captions, Sign Language, Vibration)Special Education TechnologyInclusive DesignCHI
Awareness in Collaborative Mixed-Visual Ability Tangible Programming ActivitiesIn the context of computational thinking tasks, which often require problem-solving and critical thinking skills, awareness of a partner’s actions can play a significant role in fostering a balanced collaboration. Understanding how awareness influences mixed- visual ability group collaboration in a tangible environment can provide insights into inclusive design for learning environments. To address this issue, we ran a user study where 6 mixed-visual ability pairs engaged in a tangible programming activity. The study had three experimental conditions, representing 3 different levels of awareness. Our findings reveal that while pre-existing power dynamics heavily influenced collaboration, workspace awareness feedback was essential in fostering engagement and improving communication for both children. This paper highlights the need for designing inclusive collaborative programming systems that account for workspace awareness and individual abilities, offering insights into more effective and balanced collaborative environments.2025FRFilipa Rocha et al.Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, LASIGE; Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, ITI/LARSySProgramming Education & Computational ThinkingCollaborative Learning & Peer TeachingSpecial Education TechnologyCHI
Speculative Job Design: Probing Alternative Opportunities for Gig Workers in an Automated FutureAutomation is reshaping the gig economy, raising urgent concerns about worker displacement. With the global rise in gig workers, there is an increasing urgency for HCI and design research to focus on the impact of designing automation technologies on labor dynamics. This study introduces speculative job design research to probe alternative opportunities for gig workers in an automated future, engaging 20 workers in the process. Guided by Feminist HCI, we performed reflexive thematic analysis to uncover gig workers' views on automation technology, human labor, speculative jobs, and their concerns about the future of work. We highlighted how workers see labor exploitation as a competitive asset over machines, urging that future platform designs must not perpetuate this. Notably, through speculative job design and conversation with workers, we proposed labor design, suggesting labor as a designable material to help address unfair labor dynamics in technology design. Our research offers potential insights and directions for addressing labor tensions in the evolving sociotechnical landscape.2025SMShuhao Ma et al.Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, ITI / LARSySImpact of Automation on WorkEmpowerment of Marginalized GroupsCHI
Designing and Evaluating a VR Boxing Experience with Blind PeopleVirtual Reality (VR) offers immersive experiences through advanced interaction mechanisms and rich sensory stimuli but is often inaccessible to blind people due to its over-reliance on visual feedback. While prior work has investigated specific aspects of VR accessibility, there is little knowledge on how to design full, feature-rich VR experiences accessible to blind people. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a VR Boxing experience, developed through participatory design with an ex-professional boxer who is now blind. A user study with 15 blind participants explored their perceptions of the three-mode experience developed - Heavy Bag Training, Coach Training, and Combat - to inform the design of accessible VR experiences. Our findings highlight the importance of combining natural movement, rich auditory feedback, and well-timed guidance that also fosters user independence. Furthermore, they demonstrate the value of structured progression in complexity, while also opening opportunities for engaging spatial awareness and coordination training.2025DFDiogo Furtado et al.Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, LASIGEFull-Body Interaction & Embodied InputGame AccessibilityCHI
A Feminist Care Ethics Toolkit for Community-Based Design: Bridging Theory and PracticeExisting ethics frameworks for participatory engagement in HCI often overlook the nuanced ethical challenges of dynamic community-based contexts given the latter’s relational nature. We hope to bridge this gap by grounding feminist care ethics in actionable tools for community-based projects to enhance ethical engagement in these settings. Prior research advocates for adaptable, context-sensitive ethics in participatory research, informed by feminist care ethics. To address this need, we developed and iteratively refined a toolkit embodying the underlying principles of feminist care ethics through workshops with participants working in academic and non-academic community-based settings. Our findings suggest that the toolkit fosters ethical reflection aligned with the feminist care ethics ethos while facilitating meaningful experiences for participants. This work contributes to the field by offering a practical design artefact that not only embodies feminist care ethics but also supports researchers and communities in navigating complex ethical landscapes in participatory engagements, together or independently.2025AHAna O Henriques et al.University of Lisbon, Interactive Technologies InstituteTechnology Ethics & Critical HCIParticipatory DesignCHI
When Should I Lead or Follow: Understanding Initiative Levels in Human-AI Collaborative GameplayDynamics in Human-AI interaction should lead to more satisfying and engaging collaboration. Key open questions are how to design such interactions and the role personal goals and expectations play. We developed three AI partners of varying initiative (leader, follower, shifting) in a collaborative game called Geometry Friends. We conducted a within-subjects experiment with 60 participants to assess personal AI partner preference and performance satisfaction as well as perceived warmth and competence of AI partners. Results show that AI partners following human initiative are perceived as warmer and more collaborative. However, some participants preferred AI leaders for their independence and speed, despite being seen as less friendly. This suggests that assigning a leadership role to the AI partner may be suitable for time-sensitive scenarios. We identify design factors for developing collaborative AI agents with varying levels of initiative to create more effective human-AI teams that consider context and individual preference.2024ILInês Lobo et al.Generative AI (Text, Image, Music, Video)Creative Collaboration & Feedback SystemsDIS
"My Sense of Morality Leads to My Suffering, Battling, and Arguing": The Role of Platform Designers in (Un)Deciding Gig Worker IssuesHCI and design studies have increasingly identified challenges for gig workers and advocated for designs centered around worker justice. However, there's an existing research gap in understanding how platform designers approach gig worker issues in their practice. Our study engaged ten platform designers from food delivery and ride-hailing platforms to investigate this gap. Through semi-structured interviews, we uncovered their strategies, the extent of authority and responsibilities, and the range of obstacles they encounter in influencing decision-making that could affect gig workers’ experiences with the platforms. While platform designers were aware of gig worker issues, they confronted challenges from business goals, decision-making power, policies, and job security in promoting worker well-being. We discuss the jurisdiction of platform designers and propose that HCI research should further support them, who are deeply engaged in the gig economy and have the potential to participate in addressing social justice issues.2024SMShuhao Ma et al.Gig Economy PlatformsInclusive DesignDIS
Towards Relatable Climate Change Data: Untangling Tensions in Engaging with a HyperobjectThis research investigates the potential of emerging communication strategies to enhance engagement with climate change data through HCI, by recognizing the critical challenge of effectively communicating complex hyperobejcts. We designed "Finding Arcadia", an interactive artefact centred on ocean climate data, to explore how data humanism, storytelling, decentering the human in the narrative, and positive framing influence user engagement and perception of the information. Findings from a study in-the-wild (N=42) and a post-experience survey conducted six months later (N=19) foregrounds strategies to foster deeper engagement and connection with the information but also tensions in engaging with such a complex topic. We contribute to climate change communication and HCI research with the design decisions, study outcomes, and reflections on ways in which communication strategies can promote understanding and connection with a hyperobject.2024MFMarta Galvão Ferreira et al.Data StorytellingClimate Change Communication ToolsInteractive Narrative & Immersive StorytellingDIS
Dear Nature: Using data drawings to promote sensemaking in human-nature relationsHumans are experiencing both anxiety and hopelessness regarding how they, as individuals, can affect positive change to mitigate climate change in complex human-made systems. This exploratory design research investigates how data drawings, created from personal, place-based observations of nature, can enhance human-nature connection and sensemaking in the Anthropocene. Can cooperative inquiry across different geographies, and the consequent confrontation of experiences, lead to a deeper awareness of larger, more-than-human systems? We introduce (1) a post-humanist design method called Dear Nature for supporting mindful reflection and sensemaking in human-nature relations, (2) our methodology and process based on data humanism, (3) analyses and outcomes from a five-week-long data collection and (4) considerations regarding how we can explore human-nature data reflections collectively to decenter the human in design. This first humble step towards non-anthropocentric design could lead to insights into post-humanist design thinking and the role of the human (and more-than-human) in designed systems.2024MFMarta Galvão Ferreira et al.Sustainable HCIHuman-Nature Relationships (More-than-Human Design)DIS