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Interacting Like a Girl: Considering Body Comportment in the Design of Embodied Interactions

  • University of Salzburg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Recently, design research has embraced more-than-human perspectives to explore the complex entanglements of our world, decentering the human subject and eliminating dualistic thinking. Despite these advances, further progress is needed to develop a future that equally considers all beings. This paper examines the impact of body comportment on the design of embodied, interactive technologies. Drawing on Iris Marion Young’s essay, we argue that the assumption of a universal body standard can lead to a disconnect between a person’s intentions and their interactions with technology. We relate three modalities of body comportment—ambiguous transcendence, inhibited intentionality, and discontinuous unity—to embodied interaction. These modalities offer a perspective on how embodied being-in-the-world extends beyond physical capabilities, facilitating a pluralist view of the human body. We discuss the implications of Young’s essay for research and design, reflecting on how the designer’s own ‘feminine existence’ may influence the spatial scope of embodied interactions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2025 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Pages2950-2958
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9798400714856
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jul 2025

Publication series

NameDIS '25

Keywords

  • phenomenology
  • gender studies
  • embodiment
  • body comportment
  • posthumanism
  • more-than-human-perspectives
  • inclusive design

Classification according to Österreichische Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige (ÖFOS 2012)

  • 102013 Human-computer interaction

Applied Research Level (ARL)

  • ARL Level 1 - Observation and description of a principle

Research focus/foci

  • Human-Centered Technologies & Design

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