Abstract
Technological developments are bringing interactive computer agents, such as Apple’s Siri, into our everyday lives and routines. These interactive agents are designed to be the focus of our interactions – we can feel “present” with them. Yet current theories of “presence” in IS do not account for the question of what it means to be present with technology in an experiential sense. In response we draw on existential philosophy in order to generate a research agenda for conceptualising presence in the context of what we term human-computer engagement. We suggest that research from this new perspective requires focusing on the situated interaction rather than an a-priori assessment of the entities involved. We conclude by considering the ethical questions that emerge when technology is experienced as being an independent agent with which one can be present.
Recommended Citation
Seymour, Mike and Hafermalz, Ella, "Hello Computer: Towards a Research Agenda for Conceptualising “Presence” in Human-Computer Engagement" (2016). ACIS 2016 Proceedings. 49.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2016/49