Title: Soma-Technology-Water Relations: A postphenomenological approach to design interactive water experiences.Abstract:

Abstract:
The pleasant nature of water and the associated physical and mental health benefits of being in or interacting with water have captivated the interest of human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers. However, most prior WaterHCI work has focused on advancing instrumental contexts, such as improving swimming performance. Consequently, our understanding of the design and use of systems that support interacting with technology in water in more playful contexts is still underdeveloped. This poses the opportunity to advance the understanding of the design of playful water experiences using interactive technology. My research aims to investigate this opportunity through three case studies via a somaesthetic design method. From these leanings, I propose a postphenomenological lens to understand the human-technology-world relations that emerged from the human-water interactions mediated by technologies leveraging the natural affordances of water. This aims to develop a design guideline to create novel, playful water experiences and shape future water activities.

Bio: 
Maria Fernanda Montoya graduated as a Physics Engineer in 2017 and finished her master’s in Electrical Engineering in 2020 at the Technological University of Pereira (Colombia). Her research has focused on developing rehabilitation and physiological computing applications in the human-computer interaction field. Her previous research projects investigate virtual reality games and environments and biocybernetic adaptation to design physical rehabilitation and education applications. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University. She is interested in designing experiences and developing interactive systems for the intersection of the soma (human), the technology and the water