GreyZone, An Interaction Design Promoting Smartphone Non-Use
Translated title
GreyZone, Et Interaktionsdesign der fremprovokerer Smartphone Non-use
Author
Ryberg, Nadia Urvashi
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-06-11
Pages
55
Abstract
Many people interact with their smartphones almost constantly, and overuse can crowd out social and mental engagement in daily life. Existing efforts to reduce use often work only in the short term. This thesis presents GreyZone, a deliberately provocative interaction design, and examines whether it can sustainably promote reduced smartphone use over a period of time by using a research-through-design approach in everyday settings. GreyZone combines four provocative aspects—aesthetic, conceptual, functional, and material—to make phone use visible and prompt critical reflection on one’s habits in the moment. In practice, GreyZone limits access to the smartphone to one hour per day. Its effectiveness was assessed with both qualitative and quantitative measures. Eight participants took part, and five used GreyZone for 14–20 days. The study found similar perceptions of GreyZone across participants, and the analysis shows large changes in behavior during the trial and in the following weeks, linked to reflection on both self-chosen and prompted interactions with the phone. However, there was a tendency to return to usual patterns over time.
Mange interagerer konstant med deres smartphone, og overforbrug kan forringe den sociale og mentale kvalitet i hverdagen. Eksisterende tiltag til at mindske brugen virker ofte kun kortvarigt. Dette speciale præsenterer GreyZone, et bevidst provokerende interaktionsdesign, og undersøger om det over en periode kan fremme mindre smartphone-brug i praksis ved hjælp af forskning-gennem-design i naturlige omgivelser. GreyZone kombinerer fire provokerende aspekter – æstetiske, konceptuelle, funktionelle og materielle – for at gøre brugen synlig og skabe kritisk refleksion over egne vaner i situationen. Konkret begrænser GreyZone adgangen til smartphonen til én time om dagen. Effektiviteten blev målt både kvalitativt og kvantitativt. Otte deltagere indgik i forløbet, hvoraf fem brugte GreyZone i 14–20 dage. Undersøgelsen viste, at deltagerne havde lignende opfattelser af GreyZone, og analysen peger på store adfærdsændringer under forløbet og i ugerne efter, knyttet til refleksion over både selvvalgte og udløste interaktioner med telefonen. Der var dog en tendens til, at brugen med tiden vendte tilbage til de vante mønstre.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]