Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Interactors, not Users! Towards a Neutral Interaction Design

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2023 (INTERACT 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14145))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 2040 Accesses

Abstract

This article delves into the post-humanist perspective as a means of comprehending the relationships among various actors in interaction design and their contemporary understanding. It is our contention that traditional design methodologies must be updated to ensure greater inclusivity. To this end, we propose a practical terminological shift, whereby the term interactor replaces user to recognize the significance of non-human actors in design and foster a more equitable society. In addition, we introduce a neutral interaction design model that prioritizes equity between human and non-human actors, regardless of whether they are biological or artificial. This article constitutes a modest contribution to the ongoing discourse on how design can rise to meet the challenges of the contemporary world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Norman, D.: Words Matter. Talk about people: not customers, not consumers, not users. Interactions 13(5), 49–63 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1145/1151314.1151340

  2. Braidotti, R.: The Posthuman. Polity Press, Bristol (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ferrando, F.: Posthumanism, transhumanism, antihumanism, metahumanism, and new materialisms. Existenz 8(2), 26–32 (2013)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Ferrando, F.: The body. In: Ranish, R., Sorgner, S. (eds,) Post-and Transhumanism: An Introduction, Peter Lang, Bristol, pp. 213–216 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Forlano, L.: Posthumanism and design. She Ji: J. Des. Econ. Innov. 3(1), 16–29 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2017.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Höök, K., Löwgren, J.: Characterizing interaction design by its ideals: a discipline in transition. She Ji: J. Des. Econ. Innov. 7(1), 24–40 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mareis, C., Paim, N.: Design struggles. an attempt to imagine design otherwise. In: Mareis, C., Paim, N. (eds.) Design Struggles Intersecting Histories, Pedagogies, and Perspectives, Plural, Valiz, Amsterdam, pp. 11–22 (2021) (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Moggridge, B.: Designing Interactions. MIT Press, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Löwgren, J.: Interaction design – brief intro. In: The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd edn. Interaction Design Foundation (2013). https://www.interaction-design.org/literature

  10. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9241-210: 2019 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction – Part 210: Human-Centred Design for Interactive Systems, 2nd edn. ISO, Geneva (2019). https://www.iso.org/standard/77520.html

  11. Clark, J.: Design in the Era of the Algorithm. Big Medium (2017). https://bigmedium.com/speaking/design-in-the-era-of-the-algorithm.html

  12. Brey, P.: The epistemology and ontology of human-computer interaction. Minds Mach. 15(3-4), 383–398 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-005-9003-1

  13. Draude, C.: Computing bodies. In: Gender Codes and Anthropomorphic Design at the Human-Computer Interface. Springer, Kassel (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18660-9

  14. Baudrillard, J.: The system of objects. In: Radical Thinkers, 9th edn. Verso, London (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Murray, J.H.: Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace. MIT Press, Cambridge (1998)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ITI-LARSyS, Faculdade de Belas-Artes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Sónia Rafael

Authors
  1. Sónia Rafael
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sónia Rafael .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of West London, London, UK

    José Abdelnour Nocera

  2. Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Marta Kristín Lárusdóttir

  3. University of York, York, UK

    Helen Petrie

  4. University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Piccinno

  5. Université Côte d’Azur, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

    Marco Winckler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Rafael, S. (2023). Interactors, not Users! Towards a Neutral Interaction Design. In: Abdelnour Nocera, J., Kristín Lárusdóttir, M., Petrie, H., Piccinno, A., Winckler, M. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2023. INTERACT 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14145. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42293-5_64

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42293-5_64

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-42292-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-42293-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Societies and partnerships