How does HCI Understand Human Agency and Autonomy?

What is it about?

Agency and autonomy are key concepts in HCI, central to growing issues such as AI interaction and the integration of technologies yet there is a surprising lack of clarity and coordination in how we address them. By analysing 30 years of research addressing agency and autonomy we identify different aspects of these concepts which have been important in understanding technology use, and make suggestions for how HCI researchers might better coordinate around these issues in future.

Featured Image

Photo by Kym MacKinnon on Unsplash

Photo by Kym MacKinnon on Unsplash

Why is it important?

HCI researchers have long sought to understand how technologies might support user agency and autonomy, and in recent years there is growing concern that technologies might in some circumstances undermine autonomy in particular. Yet these are famously complex topics, often unclear even in philosophical analysis and lab research. If we are to properly address these important human issues, clarity and effective coordination are key.