Human.exe: Generating Critical Theories of Humanity in Human-Computer Interaction Open Access

Abstract

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), a subfield of computer science, emerged from recognizing the disparate effects of technology and algorithms on its human users. The field seeks to intervene in technology that replicates or exacerbates the oppression present in society. While this field is necessary, HCI often falls short of its goals due to its normative definition of human that erase the nuance of marginalized people’s experiences. In recognizing this, I will show how critical race and feminist philosophy offer a crucial intervention, enabling a critique and analysis of technology at the level of effectiveness HCI aspires to do – to mitigate the structural marginalization of oppressed people that technology has observably amplified. In this paper, I will interpret Sylvia Wynter’s concept of human, critiques of techno-utopianism and technoliberalism, and techno-Orientalism, which explore the definition of human through an intersectional, humanistic perspective. I will then analyze and critique how HCI integrates critical theory into its practice and how this can be improved. Throughout this paper, I hope to display that the objectives of the HCI field are attainable and that the theory to achieve these goals does not need to be built from the ground up. To accurately and ethically create technology for all humans, the critical analysis established for decades can be used to create the most liberatory, or at the very least, not oppressive technology going forward.

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1

Chapter I: Critical Theories of the Human and Technology.....................................................………..... 3

Chapter II: Critical Theory in Human-Computer Interaction — The State of the Art..............……………. 23 Conclusion........................................................................................................................…........... 44

Works Cited.......................................................................................................................…........... 46

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	African American Studies Computer Science Gender Studies
Keyword	Human-Computer Interaction Ethnic Studies Algorithmic Bias Ethical AI Critical Theory
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Lauren Klein, Emory University
Committee Members	Alix Olson, Emory University Emily Wall, Emory University

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