Re-Envisioning the Role of a User in Sustainable Computing

As more and more computing technologies become pervasive in our daily lives, more and more e-waste is generated. And yet, when designing the next generation of devices, we prioritize qualities such as speed, usability, and usefulness (a.k.a. user-centered design), rarely exploring options that might not optimize for users but, instead, improve long-term environmental sustainability. Exploring these alternatives is essential for transitioning toward a more sustainable future in computing. To this end, we argue that the envisioned roles we attribute to users during user-centered design should encompass much more. In addition to the role of the “user of a device,” we can design for user roles such as maintainers, repairers, and recyclers of interactive devices. We discuss this design shift through examples of two interactive systems we built to explore altering the role of the traditional “user” to that of caretaker and recycler. Finally, we discuss more roles that designs might explore for their users and how these roles can encourage users to take on responsibilities to support more sustainable futures for pervasive technology.