Technology on the Trail

McCrickard, D. Scott; Horning, Michael A.; Harrison, Steve; Harmon, Ellie; Dix, Alan; Su, Norman Makoto; Stelter, Timothy L.

doi:10.1145/3148330.3152161

Cited by 16 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Part of this work identified key occasions where technology supported as well as hindered the adventure and calls for designers of future hiking technologies to support rather than lessen and sanitize adventure. This was echoed by an ACM 2017 Technology on the Trail workshop, which considered “developing ways for technology to support positive and mutually beneficial connections among people” (McCrickard et al, 2018).…”

Section: Background and Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whither wilderness? An investigation of technology use by long‐distance backpackers

Hyatt

Harvey

Pointon

et al. 2020

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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The popular outdoor pursuit of backpacking is profoundly changing as the community embraces contemporary information technologies. However, there is little empirical evidence on the adoption and use of consumer electronics by backpackers, nor the implications this has for their habits, practices, and interactions. We investigate long‐distance backpackers' articulations with mobile information technology during the TGO Challenge, a coast‐to‐coast crossing of the Scottish Highlands. By employing mixed methods, we explore how and why backpackers use such technology when planning and undertaking their journeys via a survey (n = 116), pre‐ and post‐challenge interviews with selected TGO participants, and daily in‐field video‐logs. Our results suggest many advantages to using technology in this context, including fluidity of communications and access, while noting that reliance on technology is leading to issues such as increased need for battery power management, and deskilling. The findings highlight implications for the juxtaposition between outdoor recreation, information behavior, and human computer interaction (HCI) and suggest future work in this area.

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Section: Background and Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whither wilderness? An investigation of technology use by long‐distance backpackers

Hyatt

Harvey

Pointon

et al. 2020

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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“…e.g. [9,24,28,34]). Clearly, the outdoors present a range of interesting challenges, both in terms of socio-technical understandings and interaction design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Away and (Dis)connection

Helms

Ferreira

Brown

et al. 2019

Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.

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We present a study of long-term outdoor activities, based on altogether 34 interviews with 19 participants. Our goal was not only to explore these enjoyable experiences, but more broadly to examine how technology use was recontextualized 'away' from the everyday. Outdoor activities are commonly presented as an escape from our technology-infused world. In contrast, our interviews reveal experiences that are heavily dependent on technology, both digital and not. However, digital technology - and in particular the mobile phone - is reconfigured when taken out of its ordinary, often urban and indoor, context. We first present a diversity of 'aways' during outdoor activities by depicting cherished freedoms and interpersonal preferences. We then describe how participants managed connection and disconnection while away and upon coming back. To conclude, we discuss how constructions of away can support more purposeful engagements with digital technology, and how pointed (dis)connection can be useful for technology design also in non-outdoor settings.

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Step by Step Research

Dix

2019

Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics

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Research in the Wild, a well-trodden phrase in the literature, but how wild is wild? Walking the streets of one of the most deprived areas in the country, or gazing out to sea, from an 'unspoilt' valley that, beneath the greenery, is pockmarked with 19th century mine workings. If the way is well signed (according to the tourist literature), does that make it no better than a controlled lab experiment, a repeatable journey. And 'research' is maybe no less problematic. If a researcher walks one thousand miles does that make it research in the same way that an artist piling bricks makes it art?This chapter describes a three and half month journey by foot around the periphery of Wales, which takes in the most downtrodden and industrially derelict areas of the country as well as gentrified 'regenerated' waterfronts; oil refineries, and picture postcard 'destinations'. It is a story that is as challenging methodologically as it is physically and mentally; low on systematicity, high on subjectivity, more about uncovering questions than finding answers.The questions raised are as varied as the landscape. What makes one postindustrial community fail whilst another retains its heart? Why does software cope so badly with poor connectivity, making already difficult situations worse? Above all, is there a future for the margins beyond depopulation, retirement coast, or theme park?

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Technology on the Trail

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Whither wilderness? An investigation of technology use by long‐distance backpackers

Whither wilderness? An investigation of technology use by long‐distance backpackers

Away and (Dis)connection

Step by Step Research

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