Ethical Encounters in Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

In the HCI community, there is growing recognition that a reflective and empathetic approach is needed to conduct ethical research in sensitive settings with people who might be considered vulnerable or marginalized. At our CHI 2015 workshop on ethical encounters, researchers shared personal stories of the challenges and tensions they have faced when conducting HCI research in complex settings such as hospitals, with young mental health patients, in schools for children with disabilities, and with homeless people. These research contexts can present significant challenges for HCI researchers who would not typically receive the training that other professionals working in these environments would normally receive. From our discussions with attendees at the CHI 2015 workshop, we identified a number of ethical issues that researchers are grappling with. In this follow-up workshop we aim to build on the lessons learned and to generate pragmatic but sensitive solutions to manage complex ethical issues for HCI researchers working in challenging settings.

Micro-ethics for participatory design with marginalised children

“…More generally, the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) has recognised the limitations of exclusively anticipatory ethics. In a series of workshops at HCI venues, key researchers have argued that the increasingly explorative, contextual and value-driven nature of HCI work requires a more nuanced approach, which they call "situational ethics" [47,69,70]. A similar argument is made by Frauenberger et al who argue the need to complement anticipatory ethics approaches by a reflective design practice that is guided by an individual or collectively negotiated ethos [22].…”

In the details: the micro-ethics of negotiations and in-situ judgements in participatory design with marginalised children

“…The limitations of exclusively anticipatory and principles-based ethics have been discussed in a series of workshops at HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) venues. Key researchers have argued that the increasingly explorative, contextual and value-driven nature of engagements requires a more nuanced approach, which they call situational ethics (Waycott et al 2015(Waycott et al , 2016Munteanu et al 2015;Malinverni and Pares 2017). Frauenberger, Rauhala, and Fitzpatrick (2016) make a similar argument for complementing anticipatory ethics approaches by a reflective design practice guided by collectively negotiated moral principles.…”

Interdisciplinary Insights for Digital Touch Communication

“…We propose what 'ethical touch' and 'ethical touch technologies' can mean, and why they matter. Some of the ethical challenges we discuss are more widely true for HCI research and design around emerging, interactive and connected technologies, including questions of consent, agency, harm, ownership, privacy and trust (Waycott et al 2016). Here, we draw out how touch is 'special', firstly, because it is so directly related to our bodies -as part of our (human) identities and selfhood, as a place where experience and the social are felt and articulated.…”