Awkward Algorithms
With the advent of emotion recognition in consumer products, technology is set to play a more intimate role in people’s lives – but understanding the possible implications is not easily achieved through traditional methods of inquiry. This thesis project builds upon the framework of reflective design, which prescribes a socially responsible technology practice, and presents awkwardness as a strategy to spur necessary critical reflection on part of both developers and users. In a research through design process, the concept is underpinned by the development of a speculative voice assistant prototype, Frank, who is deployed for two weeks in three different domestic environments. Frank is based…