Abstract
This study adopts Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to examine how non-human actors exercise agency in intergenerational interaction design. Moving beyond the notion of ger on technology as passive tools, we frame these technologies as active participants in shaping intergenerational connections. Through case-based analysis and material ethnography, we analyzed four design projects—Harmony Makers, CampChess, Xiangqi Mate, and SereniTea House. By systematically coding design documents, interviews, and user interaction videos, we identified five dimensions of non-human agency: Interaction Triggering, Relationship Coordination, Emotional Modulation, Cultural Invocation, and Identity Positioning. These dimensions highlight the distributed and relational nature of agency within intergenerational settings, where non-human actors not only scaffold interactions but also mediate emotions and role negotiations. By embedding artifacts within socio-material networks, this study calls for a shift from human-centered design toward a relational and distributed perspective on intergenerational interaction.
Keywords
Non-human Agency; Actor-Network Theory (ANT); Intergenerational Interaction; Gerontechnology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.990
Citation
Li, C.,and Xu, S.(2025) From Tools to Actors: Understanding Non-human Agencies in Intergenerational Interaction Design for Older Adults, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.990
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 1 - More Than Human-centered Design
From Tools to Actors: Understanding Non-human Agencies in Intergenerational Interaction Design for Older Adults
This study adopts Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to examine how non-human actors exercise agency in intergenerational interaction design. Moving beyond the notion of ger on technology as passive tools, we frame these technologies as active participants in shaping intergenerational connections. Through case-based analysis and material ethnography, we analyzed four design projects—Harmony Makers, CampChess, Xiangqi Mate, and SereniTea House. By systematically coding design documents, interviews, and user interaction videos, we identified five dimensions of non-human agency: Interaction Triggering, Relationship Coordination, Emotional Modulation, Cultural Invocation, and Identity Positioning. These dimensions highlight the distributed and relational nature of agency within intergenerational settings, where non-human actors not only scaffold interactions but also mediate emotions and role negotiations. By embedding artifacts within socio-material networks, this study calls for a shift from human-centered design toward a relational and distributed perspective on intergenerational interaction.