A Survey of the Trajectories Conceptual Framework

Abstract

We present a case study of how Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) theory is reused within the field. We analyze the HCI literature in order to reveal the impact of one particular theory, the trajectories framework that has been cited as an example of both contemporary HCI theory and a strong concept that sits between theory and design practice. Our analysis of 60 papers that seriously engaged with trajectories reveals the purposes that the framework served and which parts of it they used. We compare our findings to the originally stated goals of trajectories and to subsequent claims of its status as both theory and strong concept. The results shed new light on what we mean by theory in HCI, including its relationship to practice and to other disciplines.

In-Betweenness and Interactional Presence in Adrian Sitaru’s VR Play, Illegitimate

“…Steve Benford and Gabriella Giannachi (2008, 76-78) argue that user experience journeys can be described with three main trajectory types: canonical trajectories (i.e., proposed by the designers of that mixed reality experience), participant trajectories (i.e., pathways actualized in a concrete experience) and historic trajectories (i.e., remembered, exposed, remediated trajectories). While the originators proposed this theory as a sensitizing concept, and a tool enabling and supporting the design of such interactive humancomputer interfaces (for example as a vehicle for compiling craft knowledge or as a tool for new dramaturgies), it can be used also as a theoretical framework (see Velt, Benford andReeves 2017, 1098), which helps students, technologists, performers or users to understand the nature of mixed reality environments, and the "transformation of theatrical space" (Dixon 2007, 361). The trajectories conceptual framework will serve here as a tool for emphasizing the viewer's movements between the two strata of the performance.…”

“…It develops when an experience is documented with personal stories told after the performance, with photos made during the experience, with posts on official or personal media platforms. In the conversion of participant trajectories to historic ones, they can overlap with temporal distinctions or other aspects that result in other types of trajectories (i.e., temporal, interleaved, local, dropout trajectories) (Velt, Benford and Reeves 2017, 1093, 1096.…”

Designing the Audience Journey through Repeated Experiences

“…We also turn to the 'trajectories' conceptual framework to provide an overarching organization for our discussion. The idea behind trajectories is that a user experience -an audience journey in our casecan be expressed as the interleaving of three different types of trajectory: canonical (the intended or scripted journey through the experience), participant (the actual journey as experienced by a participant) and historical (the subsequently recounted experience) [38]. We consider each type of trajectory in turn, using it as a lens through which to inspect the various challenges of and approaches to designing audience journeys.…”

Transitioning into states of immersion: transition design of mixed reality performances and cinematic virtual reality

“…In the original sources (Benford and Giannachi 2008;Benford et al 2009;, and the subsequent uptake of the trajectory framework for actual designs (Velt, Benford, and Reeves 2017), explicit explorations of transitions are limited. This contrasts with a strong design focus on transitions 'in the wild' across a number of different immersive genres.…”