It’s become a cliché these days to bemoan how addicted humans are to various forms of media, particularly the Internet. At parties and gatherings, I hear over and over again that youth are “forsaking social connections” to sit in front of the screen all day. This language of addiction made me start thinking about all the things I do every day, things I would miss if I went without them. Yes, Internet use is one of them. But so is eating, sleeping, and using my senses to perceive the world around me.

What are your thoughts on technology for promoting healthy behaviors? Have people used technologies successfully to change aspects of their health for the long term, or is it mostly for short term gains? Is it possible, but we just haven’t found the right technologies yet?

In response to being asked what you do, have you ever said, “I work in the field of human-computer interaction.” Many of us have no doubt said as much, but is HCI really a field?

A reflection on Michael Crawford's recent book, Shop Class as Soulcraft, in which he suggests that automation degrades human agency.

Has CHI become the backwater of studying other people's creations?

This is a space where dubbers can post their thoughts about HCI and design, sparking discussion from the wider community.