Article

Ambiguity as a resource for design

Authors:

William W. Gaver,

Steve BenfordAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '03: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Pages 233 - 240

https://doi.org/10.1145/642611.642653

Published: 05 April 2003 Publication History

Abstract

Ambiguity is usually considered anathema in Human Computer Interaction. We argue, in contrast, that it is a resource for design that can be used to encourage close personal engagement with systems. We illustrate this with examples from contemporary arts and design practice, and distinguish three broad classes of ambiguity according to where uncertainty is located in the interpretative relationship linking person and artefact. Ambiguity of information finds its source in the artefact itself, ambiguity of context in the sociocultural discourses that are used to interpret it, and ambiguity of relationship in the interpretative and evaluative stance of the individual. For each of these categories, we describe tactics for emphasising ambiguity that may help designers and other practitioners understand and craft its use.

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Cited By

Gentès A(2024)Les « médiums malléables » : contribution à une théorie des médiums en designSciences du Design10.3917/sdd.019.0142n° 19:1(142-159)Online publication date: 8-Jul-2024
https://doi.org/10.3917/sdd.019.0142
Pinch AFiers FBirnholtz JFisher JReilly B(2024)“Is it time for me to be authentic?”: Understanding, performing, and evaluating authenticity on BeRealNew Media & Society10.1177/14614448241267731Online publication date: 14-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241267731
Arzberger ALupetti MGiaccardi E(2024)Reflexive Data Curation: Opportunities and Challenges for Embracing Uncertainty in Human-AI CollaborationACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/3689042Online publication date: 22-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1145/3689042
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Index Terms

Ambiguity as a resource for design
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. HCI theory, concepts and models
    2. Interaction paradigms
  2. Interaction design
    1. Interaction design theory, concepts and paradigms

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '03: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2003

620 pages

ISBN:1581136307

DOI:10.1145/642611

Conference Chairs:
Gilbert Cockton
University of Sunderland, UK
,
Panu Korhonen
Nokia Research Center, Finland

Copyright � 2003 ACM.

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Published: 05 April 2003

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CHI03: Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 5 - 10, 2003

Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, USA

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CHI '03 Paper Acceptance Rate 75 of 468 submissions, 16%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 6,199 of 26,314 submissions, 24%

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Cited By

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https://doi.org/10.3917/sdd.019.0142
Pinch AFiers FBirnholtz JFisher JReilly B(2024)“Is it time for me to be authentic?”: Understanding, performing, and evaluating authenticity on BeRealNew Media & Society10.1177/14614448241267731Online publication date: 14-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241267731
Arzberger ALupetti MGiaccardi E(2024)Reflexive Data Curation: Opportunities and Challenges for Embracing Uncertainty in Human-AI CollaborationACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/3689042Online publication date: 22-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1145/3689042
Ehsan URiedl M(2024)Explainable AI Reloaded: Challenging the XAI Status Quo in the Era of Large Language ModelsProceedings of the Halfway to the Future Symposium10.1145/3686169.3686185(1-8)Online publication date: 21-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3686169.3686185
Turmo Vidal LDuval J(2024)Ambiguity as a Resource to Design for a Plurality of BodiesProceedings of the Halfway to the Future Symposium10.1145/3686169.3686176(1-9)Online publication date: 21-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3686169.3686176
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B�r�tecene AMani M(2024)Glowing Bodies in the Dark: Playful and Participatory Exploration of Design Ideas for Virtual RealityAdjunct Proceedings of the 2024 Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3677045.3685478(1-2)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
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