The series called “Dialogical spaces for a diverse university” aims to make the UTcommunity to reflect critically on structural issues affecting diversity and inclusion in our research, education and practices. During eight online sessions we will discuss topics such as inclusive education and critical pedagogies, de-colonizing the curriculum, shaping universities for gender diversity, and discussions around race and technology in research. Cross-cutting these themes, we will continuously ask: What are we doing in our day-to-day academic practices, which is not, directly or indirectly, promoting diversity and inclusion behaviors, actions, and dynamics? And, what can we do, at both individual and institutional levels, to address this?
In this third session, Dr. Katta Spiel will join us as our main guest.
Katta Spiel researches marginalised perspectives on technology to inform critical design and engineering. Their work is situated at the intersection of Computer Science, Design and Critical Theory. Drawing on methods from (Critical) Participatory Design and Action Research, collaborations with neurodivergent and/or nonbinary folks have lead to the exploration of novel potentials for designs, methodological contributions to Human-Computer Interaction and innovative technological artefacts. Currently, Katta is a FWF Hertha-Firnberg scholar at the HCI Group of TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), where they work on their individual project entitled “Exceptional Norms: Marginalised Bodies in Interaction Design”. Additionally, I teach the lecture on “Methodological Approaches” in the interdisciplinary Master’s curriculum in Gender Studies at the University of Vienna.
´Making Norms Exceptional — Non-normative Interaction Design for and with Marginalised Bodies´
Abstract: Computing technologies in our environment moved from being large mainframe setups increasingly towards, on and even inside human bodies. Innovative technologies like wearables, on-body tattoos or somaesthetic mats engage bodies in interaction. However, a thorough and critical investigation into the conceptualisation of human bodies in interaction with these technologies albeit highly relevant for the research community, is missing so far. In this talk, I will critically analyse how bodies are constructed within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Interaction Design and explore participatory strategies for research and design with people whose bodies are marginalised by technologies. I close on provocations for the design community to orient themselves less on the general and identify a love for equity, accessibility and the specificities that make us human.