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Steampunk, Survivalism and Sex Toys: An Exploration of How and Why HCI Studies Peripheral Practices

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New Directions in Third Wave Human-Computer Interaction: Volume 2 - Methodologies

Part of the book series: Human–Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

In this chapter we describe a trend we have observed in 3rd-wave HCI research, which we are calling “peripheral practices research”. This form of research consists of primarily qualitative studies of niche, unusual, marginalized and/or highly specialized communities of practice that result in implications for HCI outside of that community. We describe how peripheral practices research serves three critical functions within HCI: (1) It introduces a diversity of perspectives into the field; (2) It identifies new approaches to existing problems and challenges; (3) It serves as a defamiliarizing lens on existing norms and assumptions within the field. We survey a broad and diverse selection of studies that engage with peripheral practices, and discuss four specific cases in more detail. By giving this mode of HCI research a name, we hope to see even more studies that look outside of the classical HCI domain for new ideas, new perspectives, and new values around technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Transformative Play Lab, Department of Informatics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Theresa Jean Tanenbaum & Karen Tanenbaum

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  1. Theresa Jean Tanenbaum
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  2. Karen Tanenbaum
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Correspondence to Theresa Jean Tanenbaum .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Interactive Arts & Technology, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada

    Michael Filimowicz

  2. School of Communications, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Veronika Tzankova

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Tanenbaum, T.J., Tanenbaum, K. (2018). Steampunk, Survivalism and Sex Toys: An Exploration of How and Why HCI Studies Peripheral Practices. In: Filimowicz, M., Tzankova, V. (eds) New Directions in Third Wave Human-Computer Interaction: Volume 2 - Methodologies . Human–Computer Interaction Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73374-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73374-6_2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73373-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73374-6

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