[artinfo] Workshop on artistic / humanistic approaches to Human-Computer Interaction

[Phoebe Sengers]

                      REFLECTIVE HCI:
            TOWARDS A CRITICAL TECHNICAL PRACTICE
                   A Workshop at CHI 2004
                      Vienna, Austria
                      April 26, 2004

    http://www.cs.cornell.edu/people/sengers/ReflectiveHCI/

                    CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

Human-computer interaction draws on many disciplines, not only on 
computer science and cognitive psychology, but also, more recently, 
on alternative views grounded in social science, design, literary 
theory, cultural studies, critical theory, and phenomenology. These 
new perspectives have broadened our view of what HCI might be as a 
discipline; they have also broadened our understanding of how it 
should be practiced.  Specifically, influences from domains such as 
cultural studies and art practice underscore the importance of 
questioning our fundamental assumptions about the nature of 
interaction between people and technology and the role of designers 
in mediating that interaction. These insights suggest the possibility 
of rethinking HCI as a critical technical practice [Agre 1997], in 
which technology development can be not only an end in itself, but 
also a means to reflect on the assumptions and attitudes that 
underpin our ideas about technology and humanity.  This workshop will 
explore the possibilities for mutual illumination between technology 
design practice and critical reflection within HCI.

Areas of particular interest include:

- The application of theory and concepts from design, literary 
theory, cultural studies, critical theory, the arts and phenomenology 
to human interaction with technology and to HCI as a critical 
technical practice;

- Case studies of work from computer scientists, product designers, 
digital artists, etc. that incorporate artistic and humanistic 
analysis into technology design, or use technology design as a way to 
generate new artistic or humanistic reflections on human-technology 
interaction;

- Experience and examples of educational programs and research 
initiatives that aim to bridge arts, design, science and engineering 
disciplines.

The workshop format will include a presentation by each participant. 
We encourage participation from a wide range of disciplines including 
computer science, design research, literary and cultural studies, and 
the digital arts.

Please submit a three- to four-page position paper (as a Word or PDF file)