Volume 24, Issue 3 - Special Issue: Case Studies in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); Guest Editors: Michael Koch, Alexander Richter

Many German crafts companies are faced with the situation of increasing orders and a decreasing workforce. In this paper, we report on the use of an AR HMD-based remote support system in a craft company that aimed to reduce travel times and speed up problem-solving. We present findings from a long-term field study examining how the system influenced work organization in a small craft company. Over the course of 10 weeks, we observed how employees in a small craft business integrated the system into their daily work practices. Using qualitative interviews, video recordings, and system logs, we observed the evolution of communication and coordination practices. Instead of primarily supporting spontaneous problem solving, as initially expected, the system was adopted for structured status reporting and video documentation. This shift reduced the need for traditional end-of-day debriefings and changed both the timing and frequency of coordination. While the system complemented rather than replaced existing communication channels, its sustained use subtly reshaped collaboration and introduced new forms of workload due to increased expectations for real-time availability. Our findings provide insights into the appropriation of remote support systems in small, real-world organizations and highlight design considerations for remote collaboration tools.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural regions face major challenges in the digital transformation. Historically grown IT landscapes, limited resources, outdated processes, and a strong dependence on external service providers make further development and digitalization difficult. Against this backdrop, the present study reports on a design case study within a German industrial company located in a rural region that only went up to prototype development. Data work, data management (DM), and knowledge exchange practices were analyzed using interviews, observations, and subsequently a prototype was designed using a participatory design approach. The results reveal duplicate data entries, knowledge silos, and a lack of system integration, all of which impair data quality and collaboration. Although the prototype was not implemented within the time window of the project, it functioned as a boundary object that surfaced ownership and process knowledge and informed the decision to replace the existing IT landscape with a larger, integrated solution. The study contributes to CSCW by promoting a design-for-knowledge perspective that shows how design work prior to appropriation in SMEs builds a common understanding and reveals the actual needs of the organization.

Prostate cancer is a significant health concern with rising incidence rates in Germany. While recent research highlights the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to support radiologists by increasing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, the successful integration of such technology depends on carefully designed, practice-oriented approaches. This paper presents a design case study (DCS) on a human-centered artificial intelligence (HCAI) solution to assist radiologists in diagnosing prostate cancer. In our contribution, we emphasize that by combining human-centered design (HCD) and practice-centered computing, we can contribute towards a seamless and usable integration of AI into healthcare. Through interdisciplinary collaboration among radiologists, user experience (UX) designers, AI developers, and human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers, we employed Design Thinking (DT) to iteratively develop low-, mid-, and high-fidelity prototypes of an AI solution for improving diagnostic workflow, which were evaluated by radiologists. Our findings advance the state-of-the-art in computing support for prostate cancer diagnosis by introducing an artifact designed with both HCD and practice-centered computing in mind.

This case study examines the appropriation of Telegram as a wartime infrastructure for aid delivery in Ukraine during the winter of 2025. Focusing on the Dnipropetrovsk region, where military units and civilians in the near rear suffered from bombardments and drone attacks, the study reconstructs a multi-step procurement process through which generators and medical equipment were delivered via decentralized Telegram-mediated logistics. Drawing on 20 semi-structured interviews and supplementary observations of relevant Telegram channels, it shows how soldiers, volunteers, and diaspora actors relied on the platform to request, verify, fundraise, procure, and transport essential items. The analysis highlights three intertwined dimensions of Telegram use: care, through improvised infrastructures of solidarity that substituted for slow or unresponsive official systems; control, through informal moderation, self-censorship, and exposure to disinformation and surveillance; and resistance, through selective withdrawal and disengagement as strategies of self-protection. The case demonstrates how a commercial messenger became a contested socio-technical infrastructure, simultaneously fostering resilience and amplifying vulnerability. It contributes to HCI and crisis informatics by offering lessons on designing for distributed trust, recognizing informal governance, and enabling safe forms of participation in high-risk environments.

This paper presents the first design iteration of a case study conducted in a pharmaceutical distribution company to investigate the sociotechnical dimensions of managing stress. Aromatherapy is employed both as a design provocation and as a well-being intervention, aiming to uncover the underlying design imperatives of workplace well-being interventions. We conceptualize the workplace as a sociotechnical infrastructure and emphasize the situated and contextual nature of work practices as central to understanding stress. The case study contributes to HCI research by (1) advancing the understanding of stress as a sociotechnical issue in organizational contexts and (2) offering insights into the design and use of aromatherapy as a non-conventional well-being intervention in the workplace, identifying broader implications and tensions for the design of such technologies.

Body tracking sensors (i.e., depth cameras) such as Microsoft Kinect have been utilized in ambient display research for more than a decade. They facilitate a deeper understanding of phenomena occurring throughout interactions, aid the investigation of ambient displays within a broader context, and effectively complement existing qualitative methods such as on-site observations. Although these sensors have made significant contributions to research, there are still challenges with regard to data collection and analysis, particularly in light of recent advances in artificial intelligence. Further research is needed into how these sensors can contribute to a better understanding of how ambient displays are used in practice long term and how they can help to develop this understanding. In this article, we expand on the potentials and limitations of body tracking sensors that we experienced in our own in-the-wild research. To this end, we present insights from a small fleet of long-term, real-world installations of ambient displays we manage, which incorporate multiple body tracking sensors. The present article is concluded with a discussion of future directions for the field. In particular, the present study explores the potential contributions of body tracking sensors to recent methodological developments in the field of Human-Computer Interaction.

Young adults frequently face mental health challenges due to high expectations, self-doubt, and uncertainties about the future. With advancements in digital communication, artificial intelligence (AI)-based conversational agents (CAs) could play a role for those struggling with grief, anxiety or loneliness. This study investigates the current use of CAs (e. g. ChatGPT, Siri) for mental health purposes and the preferred communication modes among young adults in Germany. A quantitative online survey was conducted from August 6 to September 17, 2023, involving 216 participants aged 18 to 27 (120 females, 95 males, 1 non-binary). The findings reveal that 82 % of respondents use CAs, with 17 % having asked help from these agents when feeling depressed or anxious. While verbal communication is preferred for sharing grief with humans, written interaction is favoured when engaging with CAs. Notably, participants with preexisting anxiety or psychological distress showed an increased tendency to communicate about it and a stronger preference for writing about their concerns. These findings suggest that CAs could be a valuable tool for mental health support, especially for young male adults who may be less inclined to openly share their concerns. Further exploration is needed to understand the evolving role of CAs in mental health support, particularly in how to interact with them effectively.

Operating various devices is a critical skill for scuba divers. With recent technological advances, the demands and complexity of underwater device operation have increased, highlighting the importance of investigating human-device interactions on perception and movement. Recently, the waterproof tablet has enabled underwater human research. However, the potential applications and limitations of the waterproof tablet for underwater research have not been thoroughly examined. This case study, involving two divers, examined the feasibility and limitations of using the waterproof tablet to conduct cognitive tasks in underwater environments, focusing on methodological and practical challenges. Two divers performed a visual search task and a gradual-onset continuous performance task (grad-CPT) in both land-based and underwater conditions (at a depth of 6 m), and their performance was compared across environments. The results suggested that the waterproof tablet is a viable tool for conducting cognitive tasks underwater, as task performance resembled typical laboratory results. However, several issues were identified, including limitations in stimulus presentation and concerns regarding the reliability of touch responses. Our case study provides foundational data for designing future tablet-based experiments in underwater and other extreme environments.

Terms like Metaverse , Digital Twin , Virtual Worlds , and Artificial Intelligence remain prominent in global technology discourses. However, these debates often unfold at a global scale, leaving limited room to address regional priorities, cultural values, and political contexts. This paper provides a critical, HCI-informed reflection on current trajectories of Metaverse and Virtual World development from a distinctly European perspective. We provide a historical framing and implicate European cultural values and political frameworks in addition to technology and applied research perspectives. Our central argument is that Europe must chart its own path toward future Virtual Worlds and immersive systems: one that is as open and interoperable as possible, that leverages existing technologies where appropriate, and that aligns with democratic values such as privacy, transparency, participation, and human agency. Achieving this requires not only rediscovering the old world’s overlooked strengths but also committing to open, interoperable design principles supported by sustained, coordinated public investment in strategic digital infrastructure. Only by pursuing such a trajectory can Europe secure its digital sovereignty and shape Virtual Worlds that genuinely reflect its cultural and political foundations.