Human-computer interaction (HCI) is currently caught between, on the one side, the Internet of Things, where objects as such are seen as becoming interactive, beyond user control, teamed up with Artificial Intelligence which similarly assumes to know human beings better than they do themselves; and on the other side, the augmentation of the human being itself with ‘enhanced’ capacities from smart prostheses, teamed up with a renewed interest in augmented and virtual worlds. In both of these alternatives, human control over technology is jeopardized. The research field of HCI has been expanding in scope and method, but the main point of CIO is that research in HCI also need to innovate how we think and build user interfaces, rooted in understanding complex human use.
The main research objectives of CIO Has been to develop the conception of common interactive objects that offers a new understanding of human-computer interaction, focusing on human control; develop a new perspective to support the building of user interfaces in a coherent and unified framework; make common interactive objects that will empower users to better understand and develop the technologies they use and carry out ground-breaking research regarding the technological basis of common interactive objects with focus on malleability, control and shareability over time. CIO has developed generative, i.e. analytic, critical and constructive principles and questions and outlined novel methods that have been used internally in the group and in workshops with collaborative writers. We have generally developed methods to integrate previous empirical research and developed Research Hackathons as a productive way of bringing the project group together and building technologies based on the theoretical basis. They have been effective in facilitating discussions, and for developing new technological ideas.
CIO has published more than 60 peer reviewed contributions, in addition to 17 reports and we still have 14 papers in process for publication.
CIO is important to society because it has offered alternatives that support transparency of society and public institutions, and alternatives that are not dependent on ownership of software and data by big coorperations. These alternatives have focused on empowering users to take and exercise control over the technologies they use, and in this shape, reshape and share the appropriated solutions. CIO provides hope of forms of interactive objects that mix and match across hardware and software platforms, hence empowering users to better understand and develop the technologies they use. CIO has led to renewed attention to human control, as well as new critique of Artificial Intelligence. Supporting multiplicity and diversity, both in terms of what technical solutions may work across which technical platforms, and in terms of providing the means for more diverse communities of users to apprehend and develop their own technologies, is important as alternative when commercial actors claim this space for themselves.
