“A Quiet World: Exploring Technology to Reduce Sensory Overload Through Speculative Design”
We are currently looking for participants! If you are interested, please contact Lea Strauch, lea strauch ∂does-not-exist.student kit edu.
In this workshop, we would like to explore with you which technologies and tools could support you in regulating your sensory experiences. By "sensory regulation," we mean the ways in which you respond to situations involving potential sensory overload in order to maintain or restore your well-being. Examples of sensory regulation include putting on noise-cancelling headphones when the environment becomes uncomfortably loud or dimming the lights when they are too bright. Other senses may also be involved, such as smell, touch, temperature, or combinations of multiple sensory experiences.
Our focus is on the experiences of people who are affected by sensory overload in their daily lives, for example due to a disability or chronic health condition that makes sensory input particularly overwhelming. Together with you, we would like to explore how technology can support you in these situations and what future possibilities might exist to make technologies even more helpful.
The workshop can take place either as a group session with up to five participants or as a one-on-one session. Both formats are moderated and include discussion either with the other participants or with the moderator. You can participate either in person in Karlsruhe or online. In the building in Karlsruhe there is an elevator available and barrier-free access to the room. We also provide a quiet room that participants can retreat to during the workshop. Any questions about the workshop format can be discussed during registration via email to Lea Strauch, lea strauch ∂does-not-exist.student kit edu.
The workshop is not intended to evaluate existing technologies. Instead, we want to explore what future technologies and tools designed around your needs could look like. The workshop will proceed as follows:
- Together, we will collect scenarios involving strong sensory stimulation. This takes place through discussion with the group or the moderator.
- Based on one of these scenarios, you will reflect on your sensory needs in that situation and imagine technologies or tools that could support those needs. You may work independently or, if you wish, discuss your ideas with other participants.
- Finally, we will discuss the ideas together, again with the group and/or the moderator.
Our goal is to learn from your perspectives and experiences as someone with lived experience of sensory overload. We hope to identify new approaches for designing future technologies that better reflect your preferences, while also identifying areas where our current world still needs to evolve to better support people with sensory sensitivities.
Registration and scheduling take place via email to Lea Strauch, lea strauch ∂does-not-exist.student kit edu.
What you can expect:
- A workshop of approximately 120 minutes, with briefing, pause and debriefing included – participants are free to take more pauses based on their own needs
- Either a group session (maximum of five participants) or a one-on-one session
- Participation in person in Karlsruhe or online
- You are welcome to attend together with a support person, caregiver, or trusted companion.
- The scenario discussion portion of the workshop will be video recorded, transcribed, and pseudonymized. Recordings, transcripts, and notes will be stored pseudonymously on secure servers and deleted after the data analysis has been completed. It will not be possible to identify you in any publications resulting from this research.
- €30 compensation paid via bank transfer for participants who have both a registered address and a bank account within the European Union (unfortunately, compensation cannot be provided to participants outside the EU).
Eligibility:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have personal experience with sensory overload.
- You have a disability or chronic health condition that affects how you perceive sensory input. This also includes neurodivergence, such as autism or ADHD. A formal diagnosis is not required. If you have any questions or are unsure whether you are eligible to participate, please feel free to contact us.
- You have a very good command of German or English.
- You are willing to participate in a workshop session that will be video recorded.
If you are interested, have any concerns, or would like to ask questions, please feel free to contact Lea Strauch, lea strauch ∂does-not-exist.student kit edu.
Further Information: