Towards Reciprocity: Mediating Human-Nature Relations Through HCI
Date
Authors
Perera, Piumi
Cumbo, Bronwyn
Bidwell, Nicola J
Vella, Kellie
Webber, Sarah
Zhang, Huiwen
Wadley, Greg
Paay, Jeni
Morrison, Ann
Giraldo, Catalina
Supervisor
Item type
Conference Contribution
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Abstract
As concerns of ecological degradation intensify, digital technologies are increasingly explored for their potential to inspire environmental concern and deepen human-nature relationships. In Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), many nature-focused technologies still reflect deeply extractive anthropocentric views that separate humans from nature. However, there is now growing interest in designing from alternative orientations (e.g., more-than-human approaches and relational ontologies), to move towards more inclusive forms of nature interaction. This paper reports insights from an academic workshop involving HCI researchers and practitioners, who explored these tensions through design activities for diverse nature spaces. We identify key challenges and opportunities for HCI in supporting more meaningful engagements with nature, emphasizing under-explored application areas, and proposing future research directions. We argue that challenging existing temporal and methodological constraints embedded in HCI design processes is essential to fostering reciprocity, to create mutually responsive relationships where human and non-human needs, rhythms, and agencies are acknowledged and respected.Description
Keywords
46 Information and Computing Sciences, 4608 Human-Centred Computing, 33 Built Environment and Design, 3303 Design, human-nature relations, digital technologies, design workshop
Source
In Proceedings of the 37th Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (OZCHI '25). Association for Computing Machinery. pp 876–884. ACM ISBN 979-8-4007-2016-/25/11 https://doi.org/10.1145/3764687.3769939
Publisher's version
Rights statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. OZCHI ’25, Sydney, Australia. © 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).