Social Blooms: Materializing Screen Use During Family Time
Authors
Le, Thien Chan ; Memic, Samir
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-12
Pages
25
Abstract
Mobile teknologier præger i stigende grad familielivet og kan splitte opmærksomheden i fælles stunder. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan skærmbrug kan materialiseres for at støtte refleksion i husstande. Med en Research through Design-tilgang udviklede vi Social Blooms, et blomsterformet artefakt, der fysisk blomstrer eller visner i takt med den enkelte persons telefonaktivitet under familietid. Med afsæt i to forskningsspørgsmål om, hvordan husstande kan understøttes i at reflektere over skærmbrug, og hvordan de reagerer på et artefakt, der materialiserer denne adfærd, gennemførte vi en litteraturgennemgang og designede en 3D-printet prototype koblet til en mobilapp. Systemet blev afprøvet i tre husstande i én uge, hvor hver person havde sin egen blomst; efterfølgende gennemførte vi semistrukturerede interviews og analyserede data tematisk. Synliggørelsen af skærmbrug skabte øjeblikkelig opmærksomhed, selviagttagelse og ansvarsfølelse og udløste følelser som skyld, skam, glæde og legende konkurrence. Den planteinspirerede form fremmede engagement og omsorg, men artefaktets kunstighed begrænsede til tider den følelsesmæssige tilknytning. I stedet for at begrænse brugen fungerede artefaktet som social katalysator, der satte samtaler og forhandling af normer i gang; dog opstod der også konkurrenceadfærd, som ikke er ønskelig på længere sigt. Vi diskuterer designimplikationer for materiale-centreret interaktionsdesign, herunder betydningen af følelsesmæssig involvering, muligheder for mere direkte fysisk interaktion med materielle metaforer og værdien af tvetydighed for at understøtte nuanceret refleksion i hjemmet.
Mobile technologies increasingly shape family life and can fragment attention during shared moments. This thesis examines how materializing screen use can support reflection in households. Using a Research through Design approach, we created Social Blooms, a flower-shaped artifact that physically blooms or wilts in response to each person’s phone activity during family time. Guided by two research questions about supporting reflection and understanding responses to such materialization, we reviewed related work and designed a 3D-printed prototype connected to a mobile app. The system was deployed for one week in three households, with one flower per person; afterwards, we conducted semi-structured interviews and analyzed the data thematically. Making screen use visible sparked immediate awareness, self-reflection, and a sense of accountability, and elicited emotions ranging from guilt and shame to joy and playful competition. The plant-inspired form fostered engagement and care, though its artificiality at times limited emotional connection. Rather than enforcing restrictions, the artifact acted as a social catalyst, prompting conversations and negotiation of family norms; however, it also occasionally encouraged competitive behaviors that may be undesirable long term. We discuss implications for material-centered interaction design, highlighting the role of emotional engagement, opportunities for more direct physical interaction with material metaphors, and the value of ambiguity to support nuanced reflection at home.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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