Beyond the User: An Entanglement Perspective on Aging and Ubiquitous AI

TL;DR

Researchers are discovering horizontal gaps between what older adults say they want in design workshops and what they actually use. This paper proposes a shift from User-Centered Design to Entanglement HCI, focusing on how older adults, AI assistants, and their environments "intra-act" to shape new social realities. It argues that by decentering the human "user," we can better understand the ontological uncertainty of today's ubiquitous technologies.

The "Say-Do" Dissonance in Aging HCI

For decades, the standard in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has been to ask the user what they want. However, in the context of aging, this approach is hitting a wall. Older adults often participate in design activities "just enough to satisfy researchers" or design for a "stereotypical other" rather than themselves.

The core problem is that our current models (First to Third Wave HCI) focus too much on the human as a central, isolated source of agency. When a technology like Alexa enters a home, it isn't just a tool; it becomes part of a complex "socio-material" web. The struggle isn't just about "ease of use"—it's about an ontological uncertainty: Is this a friend, a servant, or just a plastic box?

Methodology: The Entanglement Lens

This dissertation work utilizes the Entanglement HCI framework (often called the Fourth Wave of HCI). This lens suggests that we don't just create functions; we configure material conditions that "design humanity."

Key Research Questions:

• How do older adults categorize voice assistants ontologically (Human vs. Object)?
• Which non-human actors (like the location of the device or the nature of interaction) participate in shaping these realities?
• How can we use "participatory speculation" to design future configurations rather than just features?

Note: The research utilizes qualitative data from deployments and co-design workshops to map these entanglements.

Key Insights: Fluidity and Intra-action

One of the standout findings is that older adults do not reside in a single "camp" regarding AI. They exhibit a fluid ontological movement.

1. The Human-Object Spectrum: Depending on the context, a user might treat a voice assistant as a "BFF" one moment (social actor) and a "simple tool" the next (material object).
2. Role of Non-Human Actors: The research identifies that specific material conditions—such as the physical location of the Amazon Echo (e.g., kitchen vs. bedroom) and the duration of use—actively change the user's perception of the AI’s "presence."
3. Resisting Stereotypes: By focusing on the "entanglement" rather than just the "older person," the research avoids the trap of designing for "the elderly" as a monolithic, fragile group, instead seeing them as active re-configurers of their domestic technology.

Note: The workflow moves from understanding ontological categorization to speculating on future design spaces.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

This work signals a major shift in how we approach inclusive design. Instead of "optimizing the user experience," we should be designing meaningful socio-material relations.

Takeaway for Designers: Stop asking older adults what button they want. Start observing how the device’s physical presence, its voice "persona," and the user’s social environment entangle to create a shared life. The future of ubiquitous AI lies not in functional perfection, but in successfully navigating the ontological "in-between."

Limitations: As a dissertation abstract, the full quantitative scale of the findings is still in progress, and the framework requires deep qualitative work that may be difficult to scale in corporate R&D environments.