Embodied Engagement: Supporting Movement Awareness in Ubiquitous Computing Systems

Abstract

This paper advocates for supporting movement awareness in ubiquitous computing as a means of transforming technology design through an approach that considers movement as an experiential component of interaction rather than a solely functional one. Somatic awareness, or the awareness of the body from the inside, is one of the primary components of movement experience, yet its resource for technology design is not yet fully understood within the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The inclusion of phenomenological movement experience in computational interaction has the potential to improve user experience, enhance the fidelity and quality of communication, and produce heightened engagement for users. Although somatic awareness has received little attention within HCI, other disciplines offer theories and frameworks that can inform the development of technology to support movement awareness. Through the discussion of theories of embodiment from a diverse range of disciplines including cognitive science, dance, somatic practices, and philosophy, this paper presents an argument for the importance of movement experience as a component of interaction with technology. It provides a history of movement within HCI, highlighting movement’s role in a variety of theories and frameworks, and identifies two distinct approaches toward the utilization of movement in HCI — task oriented and experience-oriented. An in-depth discussion of experience-oriented approaches illustrates the importance of movement and somatic awareness as necessary components of ubiquitous computing systems.