Philosophy

We explore the world through design.

Technology permeates every aspect of our lives, shaping our daily experiences and functioning as an essential part of our modern world. Some refer to our industrialized environment as “the second nature,” while our digitalized realm is often dubbed “the third nature” of human existence. Drawing inspiration from ancient Greek mythology, where Prometheus bestowed upon humanity the gift of fire, we recognize that technology, much like fire, is not merely a utilitarian tool but a foundational element that molds our society and living conditions.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that technology follows its own inherent rules in its development. While we may believe we have control over our use of technology, our evolving relationship with it does not always align with our desires and intentions. In our research laboratory, we adopt a unique perspective on technology. Inspired by the work of Nelson and Stolterman, who liken fire to a “design” rather than an “invention,” we diverge from the conventional approach of “applying” technology solely for problem-solving. Instead, we embrace the idea that technology can exist beyond our control and explore the possibilities of designing human-technology relationships—a concept we refer to as “technology design.”

By refining the clarity, structure, and expansion of key concepts in our technological culture, we aim to offer a more accessible and engaging exploration of the profound impact of technology on our lives and the innovative approach of technology design.

Experience permeates every facet of our existence. It is the linchpin connecting all meaningful terms and concepts to the realm of human existence. Survival in our world necessitates comprehension, and comprehension, in turn, hinges on experience. To accumulate experiences, we must actively engage with the world around us.

Designers are driven by the aspiration to craft a world brimming with enriching and fulfilling experiences. However, there is a palpable constraint imposed by both social and ecological considerations. We cannot exhaustively deplete resources in pursuit of momentary gratification. Besides, crafting the world solely geared toward functional utility would not render the meaningful existence of humanity and humans’ will.

For example, Hassenzahl propounds the concept of experience design as a post-materialistic approach for individuals to derive meaning in this technology-driven era. Meaningful experiences are, on the one hand, aligned with the intricacies of human psychological mechanisms. Yet, their significance is profoundly rooted in social-cultural sustainability. The impulsive consumption of resources can erode the intrinsic meaning of things. Therefore, we seek to embrace the richness of human experience while also adopting an experimental, knowledge-based approach to explore these profound “humanistic experiences.”

Building upon these foundational concepts, we are actively engaged in the following areas of design research:

I. Crafting New Concepts through Designing Technology
II. Cultivating Meaningful Technology Experiences
III. Exploring Technological Landscape and Stroll Experiences

科技無所不在，塑造了我們的日常生活體驗，成為現代世界的重要組成部分。有人稱我們的工業化環境為人類的「第二自然」；而我們的數位世界則被稱為「第三自然」。受到古希臘神話中的普羅米修斯的啟發，我們認識到科技，就像火一樣，不僅僅是一個實用工具，更是塑造我們社會和生活條件的基本元素。

然而，必須承認科技發展遵循其自身固有的規則。儘管我們可能認為我們可以掌控我們使用科技的方式，但我們與科技的不斷演變的關係並不總是符合我們的願望和意圖。在我們的研究實驗室中，我們採用了一種獨特的科技觀點。受到Nelson和Stolterman的啟發，他們將火比喻為「設計」而不是「發明」，我們不再遵循傳統的“應用”科技來解決問題的方式。相反，我們接受科技可以存在於我們的控制之外，並探索設計人與科技的關係的可能性——這是我們所稱之為「科技設計」的概念。

通過提高關鍵科技文化概念的清晰度、結構和擴展，我們旨在提供一種更容易理解和引人入勝的探討科技對我們生活的深刻影響以及科技設計創新方法的方式。

體驗無所不在，它連接著我們生活中的每個層面。它是將所有有意義的詞語和概念聯繫到人類存在領域的關鍵。在這個世界上生存需要理解，而理解又依賴於我們在世界中體驗的累積。為此，我們主動地參與這個真實世界。

設計師的動力在於創造一個充滿豐富和充實體驗的世界。然而，社會和生態方面存在著明顯的限制。我們不能無休止地耗盡資源，追求短暫性的滿足。此外，只為了實現功能性的目的來塑造這個世界，也使人類的意志與存在失去意義。

例如，Hassenzahl 提出了體驗設計的概念，作為一種後物質主義的方法，供人們在這個技術驅動的時代尋找意義。有意義的體驗一方面需要顧及人類錯綜的心理機制，但其重要性深深根植於可永續的社會文化之中。相較於創造衝動性的資源消費、侵蝕事物的內在意義，我們尋求擁抱豐富的人類經驗，同時採取一種更具實驗性和知識基礎的方式來探索這些深刻的「人文體驗」。

基於這些概念，我們目前積極參與以下設計研究領域：

  1. 透過科技設計塑造新概念
  2. 創造有意義的科技體驗
  3. 探索科技地景和漫遊體驗

currently running projects

  • To the Social-Cultural Perspective on Intelligent Technology (MOST project 2022 – ongoing)
  • Technology Grounding and Humanistic Landscape Design for Rural Revitalization (USR project 2021 – ongoing)
    Pixel Badlands

Portfolio

Pixesl Badlands 2024 (V3), 2022(V2), 2021(V1)

Publication

  • Chang, CJ., Chien, W.-C. (2024). Towards a Positive Thinking About Deepfakes: Evaluating the Experience of Deepfake Voices in the Emotional and Rational Scenarios. In: Kurosu, M., Hashizume, A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. HCII 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14684. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60405-8_20
  • Liao, TL., Chien, W.-C., Lin, LY. (2024). Experience-Oriented Intervention Strategy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Families: A Framework of Design and Evaluation. In: Antona, M., Stephanidis, C. (eds) Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. HCII 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14697. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60881-0_13
  • Jhang, K., Chien, W.-C. (2024). A Telepresence Robot Partner for Remote Work: An Exploration into Design and Its Psychological Effect. In: Kurosu, M., Hashizume, A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. HCII 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14685. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60412-6_8
  • Lee, C.C., Chen, C.H., Chien, W.-C., Wu, F.G. (2023) Improving pedestrians’ navigation safety at night by enhancing legibility of foreground and background information on the display. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 90. DOI:10.1016/j.ergon.2022.103383
  • Tung, YS., Chien, WC. (2023). NUWA: Lifelike as a Design Strategy to Enhance Product’s Hedonic Qualities. In: Kurosu, M., Hashizume, A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14011. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35596-7_18
  • Chang, Y., Chien, W. (2023). Memories-to-go: A remote interactive experience for parents and their overseas adolescent children. In: Matteo Zallio (eds) Human-Centered Metaverse and Digital Environments. AHFE International Conference. AHFE Open Access, vol 99. AHFE International, USA. http://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1003927
  • Lu, H.-C., Chien, W.-C. (2022) Reshaping the wearing condition of high-heeled shoes by insole design to avoid hallux valgus. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 90. DOI:10.1016/j.ergon.2022.103299
  • Chiu, YC., Chien, W.-C. (2022). Coping with Autism Spectrum Disorder Adolescents’ Emotional Suppression with a “One-Bit” Interactive Device. In: Antona, M., Stephanidis, C. (eds) Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. User and Context Diversity. HCII 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13309. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05039-8_24
  • Chien, W.-C., Lin, CH. (2022). Technology in Automotive Brands: Function or Fashion?. In: Kurosu, M. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. Theoretical Approaches and Design Methods. HCII 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13302. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05311-5_28
  • Huang, S., Chien, W.-C. (2022). Taking a Romantic Adventure Together: Explore the Design of Virtual Travelling for Couples in Long-Distance Relationships. In: Tareq Ahram and Christianne Falcão (eds) Human Factors in Virtual Environments and Game Design. AHFE (2022) International Conference. AHFE Open Access, vol 50. AHFE International, USA. http://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002076
  • Hsiao, R., Chien, W.-C. (2021). Am I Conquering the Robot? the Impact of Personality on the Style of Cooperation with an Automatic System. In: Kurosu, M. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction Techniques and Novel Applications. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12763. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78465-2_16
  • Kuo, J.-Y., Chien, W.-C. (2021) Modern but friendly: An exploration of crutches’ from design. International Conference for ADADA and CUMULUS.
  • Chang, Y.-C., Chien, W.-C. (2021) The blinding light: A reflection on the essence of technology mediated illusion through techno art experience. International Conference for ADADA and CUMULUS.
  • Mu, Y.-T., Chien, W.-C., Wu, F.-G. (2020) Providing peripheral trajectory information to avoid motion sickness during the in-car reading tasks. In Proceedings of IHSED’19 International Conference on Human Systems Engineering and Design: Future Trends and Applications. Springer Verlag.
  • Chien, W.-C., Hassenzahl, M. (2017) Technology-mediated relationship maintenance in romantic long-distance relationships: An autoethnographical research through design. Human-Computer Interaction 35(3), 240-287. DOI: 10.1080/07370024.2017.1401927
  • Chien, W.-C., Hassenzahl, M. & Welge, J. (2016) Sharing a Robotic Pet as a Maintenance Strategy for Romantic Couples in Long-Distance Relationships.: An Autobiographical Design Exploration. Proceedings of the CHI EA’16 Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ACM, New York, NY, USA.
  • Chien, W.-C., Hassenzahl, M. & Lenz, E. (2015) Fürsorge, Gemeinsamkeiten, Pläne – Technik für Fernbeziehungen gestalten. Mensch und Computer. De Gruyter Oldenbourg. Berlin, Germany
  • Chien, W.-C., Diefenbach, S., & Hassenzahl, M. (2013) The whisper pillow: A study of technology-mediated emotional expression in close relationships. DPPI´13 Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Designing Pleasurable Products and Interfaces. ACM New York, NY, USA.
  • Chin, W.-C., Hassenzahl, M., & Mehnert, K. (2011) Musikhören und Arbeiten im Einklang. i-com. Zeitschrift für interaktive und kooperative Medien, 10(3). Oldenbourg, Germany.