Design Counterfactuals in Interaction: A Catalyst to the Discourse on Technology Ethics

Design Counterfactuals in Interaction: A Catalyst to the Discourse on Technology Ethics

Technology ethics is gaining attention in Human-computer interaction research, and the speculative nature of counterfactual thinking contributes to the thought experiments on technology. This paper investigates how design counterfactuals can stimulate the discourse of technological ethics in interaction. By prototyping counterfactual scenarios that deviate from conventional user-centred principles, the role of the user shifts to the imaginer. The paper adopts several case studies to discuss how counterfactual scenarios facilitate thought experiments in interaction, allowing users to engage with alternative technological presents, thereby triggering discourse on technology ethics. This study highlights the potential of counterfactual scenarios to rethink the human-machine relationship, ultimately contributing to technology ethics through the interaction study.

Keywords: Design Counterfactuals · Interaction Design · Technology Ethics

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