The CTS//circle.responsibleComputing hosted the first brown bag talk in the new semester on Perspectives on Designing Interactive Technologies for Wellbeing with Prof. tekn. dr Paweł W. Woźniak. A recording of our session is available online.

About the speaker

Paweł W. Woźniak, tekn. dr is professor and head of research unit at TU Wien. Previously, he was associate professor at Interaction design, Chalmers University of Technology, assistant professor for Human-Centred Computing at Utrecht University and postdoctoral fellow at the Chair for Human-Computer Interaction and Socio-Cognitive Systems, University of Stuttgart. Paweł received his PhD degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Chalmers in 2016. Paweł’s key interests lie in the intersection of technologies, sport and wellbeing. His focus is on understanding the everyday experiences of physical activity to design better technologies that support wellbeing. To this end, he conducts studies in personal informatics, building an understanding of how uses gather, process and reflect upon data about their lives. Paweł loves to build stuff and he builds devices for sports particularly often. He also conducts research in multi-surface interactions, augmenting sensory perception and creepy experiences of interactive technologies. Paweł received numerous paper awards (CHI, MobileHCI, EICS) and assumed multiple roles of trust in the academic community (general chair of TEI'23, ISS'21, SIGCHI Poland Chair).

Pawel Wozniak

Seminar notes

Pawel discussed recent advances in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) concerning user engagement and perception of interactive technologies. Pawel introduced two key projects: the Perceived Creepiness of Technology Scale (PCTS) and the Tracker Goal Evolution Model, both of which aim to enhance user experience and trust in personal technology.

Please find some of the contents presented during the seminar below:

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Image credits: Pawel Wozniak


Key problem: Pawel’s talk highlighted the increasing proximity of interactive technologies to our daily lives, particularly with devices embedded in personal spaces, such as fitness trackers and smart home technologies. While these innovations offer numerous benefits, they also risk evoking feelings of unease or "creepiness" in users. To address this, Pawel and his team developed the Perceived Creepiness of Technology Scale (PCTS), a tool that helps designers measure how "creepy" a technology appears to users upon first interaction. Additionally, Pawel presented the Tracker Goal Evolution Model, which outlines how users' tracking goals with fitness devices evolve from internal needs through qualitative to quantitative targets. These insights underscore the need for HCI to prioritize user comfort and long-term engagement by mitigating initial discomfort and fostering meaningful goal progression.

Future directions: Pawel proposed several future directions for responsible computing in HCI. For one, the PCTS can be used to guide the design of less intrusive, more user-friendly technologies by helping developers identify and address elements that may seem creepy. The Tracker Goal Evolution Model offers valuable insights for designers to create adaptive fitness trackers that align with users' changing personal fitness goals. Future research should explore trust and reflective engagement as core elements in interactive technology design, particularly as devices become more deeply embedded in personal spaces. These approaches aim to build technologies that respect user autonomy, foster long-term engagement, and align with ethical computing standards.

Seminar details

  • Perspectives on Designing Interactive Technologies for Wellbeing
  • Prof. tekn. dr Paweł W. Woźniak
  • 10. October 2024 12:00 - 13:00
  • TU Wien: Gußhausstraße 27 - 29, 1040 Wien (Raum: CA0335) and online


Abstract: In this talk, I will present three perspectives on designing interactive technologies for wellbeing, which stem from our research. The systems perspective examines how integrated technological ecosystems can support understanding, exemplified by our work on making sense of complex running metrics through smart wearables. The method perspective focuses on tools for evaluating prototypes, highlighting the Creepy Technology Scale (PCTS), which we developed to identify potentially unsettling features in technology early in the design process. Finally, the understanding perspective emphasizes insights gained from users' experiences, such as the evolution of goals when using personal fitness trackers, based on our interviews and surveys. Together, these perspectives offer a comprehensive view of how to create interactive technologies that effectively promote wellbeing while considering users' comfort and evolving needs.