There is an “I” in “We”: Relatedness Technologies Viewed Through the Lens of the Need for Autonomy

What is it about?

Technologies that emotionally connect over distance have a long tradition in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Naturally, the design of such technologies focuses on fulfilling people's need for relatedness. What seems to be neglected is the possibly conflicting need for autonomy. In this essay, we first discuss the potential tension between relatedness and autonomy. We then present five previously published relatedness technologies as examples of how neglecting autonomy might lead to unexpected side effects or the absence of positive effects.

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Why is it important?

We suggest that designing for relatedness should be understood as designing for the ongoing negotiation of relatedness (the “we”) and autonomy (the “I”). This negotiation should not be left to people involved alone but should be integral to designing relatedness technologies.