Exploring Human-Tech Hybridity at the Intersection of Extended Cognition and Distributed Agency: A Focus on Self-Tracking Devices

Abstract

In an increasingly technology-textured environment, smart, intelligent and responsive technology has moved onto the body of many individuals. Mobile phones, smart watches, and wearable activity trackers (WATs) are just some of the technologies that are guiding, nudging, monitoring, and reminding individuals in their day-to-day lives. These devices are designed to enhance and support their human users, however, there is a lack of attention to the unintended consequences, the technology non-neutrality and the darker sides of becoming human-tech hybrids. Using the extended mind theory (EMT) and agential intra-action, we aimed at exploring how human-tech hybrids gain collective skills and how these are put to use; how agency is expressed and how this affects the interactions; and what the darker sides are of being a human-tech hybrid. Using a qualitative method, we analyzed the experiences of using a WAT, with a specific focus on how the tracker and the individual solve tasks, share competences, develop new skills, and negotiate for agency and autonomy. We contributed with new insight on human-tech hybridity and presented a concept referred to as the agency pendulum, reflecting the dynamism of agency. Finally, we demonstrated how the EMT and agential intra-action as a combined theoretical lens can be used to explore human-tech hybridity.

Self-Reported Gender Identity and Sexuality in an Online Sample of Cisgender, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse Individuals: An Exploratory Study

“…In all other groups, satisfaction with affirmed gender was linked to feeling as the affirmed gender (and to other aspects of gender identity, which differed between the different groups). The association between (dis)satisfaction with affirmed gender and body dysphoria in cisgender women may reflect the multiple ways in which the social reaction to the female body may cause dissatisfaction or suffering to women in Western societies (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997;Kahalon, Shnabel, & Becker, 2018)-from policing its form, which may lead to the development of body image issues and eating disorders (Calogero, Davis, & Thompson, 2005), to sexual victimization (White, Donat, & Bondurant, 2001; for a review, see Szymanski, Moffitt, & Carr, 2011).…”

Open Perspectives

“…Let's consider the technology, for example. The deep and strong connection with technology can help a new human-tech hybrid emerge (Duus et al, 2018), with darker sides still to discover.…”

Elektron Dövlət Mühi̇ti̇ndə Vətəndaşlarin Sosi̇al Kredi̇ti̇ni̇n Fərdi̇ Məlumatlar Əsasinda Qi̇ymətləndi̇ri̇lməsi̇: Problemlər Və Perspekti̇vlər

“…wearable activity trackers) vətəndaşların gündəlik fəaliyyətini izləyən, yönəldən və müəyyən tapşırıqları xatırladan müasir informasiya texnologiyalarına aid cihazlardır. Bu cihazlar insanların işini yüngülləşdirmək və dəstəkləmək üçün nəzərdə tutulmuşdur, lakin onlar insanları izləməklə əldə olunan bütün məlumatları verilənlər bazasına toplamaq qabiliyyətinə də malikdirlər və bu fərdi məlumatların sonrakı taleyi çox zaman naməlum qalır [21].…”