Technology is mainly developed by and designed for neurotypical people. Although neurodivergent perspectives are increasingly included in research projects, accessibility within industrial contexts remains insufficiently addressed. This work focuses on (1) work technologies developed in (2) small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), both largely unattended aspects of accessibility research. Our project aims to enhance workplace participation by analyzing situated practices within industry settings. We examine how everyday reasoning processes shape decisions around accessibility, moving beyond explanations based solely on limited awareness or resources. Data collected through questionnaires and interviews with software development companies reveal reasoning patterns that currently hinder opportunities for neurodivergent individuals to structurally be part of the development process. Our data show that SMEs provide unique opportunities in their development processes to cater for individuality within the neurodiversity discussion. However, we identified three mutually reinforcing layers of argumentation that keep neurodiversity considerations at a case-by-case level: (1) accessibility perceived as irrelevant for B2B industries, due to an assumed lack of neurodivergent workforce; (2) the belief that existing individualized approaches already suffice to address neurodiversity requirements; and (3) the perception that repeated structural involvement contradicts these individualized views. To improve actual practice, a deeper understanding of the situated nature of SME work is required, including both its constraints and possibilities as well as underlying societal biases. Addressing all three argumentation layers is essential for increasing initiatives to involve neurodivergent individuals and hence provide workable solutions that recognize structural barriers. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS This interview study addresses two under-researched areas in accessibility research: software development processes in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the business-to-business (B2B) sector.By investigating everyday decision-making practices and work routines, we sought to identify concrete entry points for structurally embedding neurodivergent perspectives in software development.Rather than finding pathways toward structural inclusion, we uncovered three mutually reinforcing layers of argumentation that explain why B2B SMEs tend to maintain individual, case-by-case accommodation instead.These layers include the underestimation of neurodivergent wokforce in both number and capability, the conflation of accessibility with usability, and a reliance on individual users to selfadvocate for solutions.Collectively, those argumentation layers inhibit the structural anchoring of neurodivergent involvement in development processes.

People with cognitive disabilities represent the largest group of employees in sheltered workshops, which have among other functions the mandate to foster transitions into the first labour market but show limited success in doing so. Hence, digital competencies and more complex technologies are becoming increasingly relevant, yet their usability for people with predominantly non-sensory/physical disabilities remains under-researched. In two case studies, we examined the methodological applicability of common usability testing approaches, Think-Aloud-Protocols and the System-Usability-Scale in Easy Language for people with cognitive disabilities. Our findings indicate that the amount and type of usable data differ substantially from common usability tests. To carve out meaningful insights, flexible use of closed-ended questions, continuous moderation and interpretation of nonverbal communication was required. Importantly, the work-related context strongly influenced a testing-ambiguity: insecurities, whether the system or the user was being evaluated. This perceived performance relation must be considered in light of societal stigmatization experiences.

Deciding where to work in hybrid environments involves various factors beyond work-life balance. Awareness of colleagues’ tasks arises from overheard conversations, screen glimpses, and other informal exchanges in the office. This knowledge sharing is crucial for effective work. However, knowledge workers navigate between the office, home, and mobile work, leading to constant re-negotiations of hybrid work environments. This article uses data from ethnographic observations and qualitative interviews to illustrate how knowledge workers outweigh decisions for work location and strategically use informal office interactions to advance tasks on-site. Although the body of research on awareness and knowledge work is by now substantial, the spontaneous knowledge exchange in everyday practices is under-explored. This study addresses two questions: (I) what factors influence decisions between mobile and office work, and (II) how on-site practices generate different types of awareness that support task progress.

Objective Hospital information systems (HIS) are meant to manage complex work processes across healthcare organizations. We describe limitations of HIS to address local information requirements and how they are circumvented at different organizational levels. Results can be used to better support collaboration in socio-technical systems. Background Workarounds describe a mismatch between a technology’s purpose and its actual use, whereas shadow systems are unofficial IT systems circumventing limitations of official systems to support workflows. Boundary infrastructures are conceptualized as the entirety of all (in)formal digital and analog systems connecting different communities of practice in a socio-technical system. Methods An ethnographic study with observations and semi-structured interviews was conducted and analyzed through categorization and iterative coding. Results Several digital-analog workarounds are employed for documentation and a shared server functions as a shadow system to support workflows in ways the HIS cannot. For collaborative documentation, all (official and informal) information sources were used simultaneously as part of an interconnected boundary infrastructure. Conclusion Formal and informal IT systems are interconnected across different organizational levels and provide insights into unmet information requirements, effective and problematic work practices, and how to address them to improve system functioning. An integrated perspective on boundary infrastructures, workarounds, and shadow systems may advance system analysis, providing a more comprehensive picture of IT requirements than any concept alone. Application Workarounds and shadow systems highlight that HIS should support systemic and local needs. Customized interfaces in HIS to support search, access, and exchange of relevant data might help to mitigate current shortcomings.

Purpose This study aims to provide an explorative perspective on how workarounds – defined as practices that deviate from an official pathway to a target – delineate a decisive element for users with visual impairment to enable assistive technologies in the context of office work. Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic study with in situ observation at participants’ work locations together with interviews was conducted to cater for the explorative nature of this study. Findings The study outlines three types of workarounds that can be distinguished into: (1) own investment into invisible work, (2) engaging support from colleagues and (3) the complete circumvention of technology use. It is furthermore discussed that workarounds remain largely unnoticed but yield the potential as an enabling factor for insights into the use of assistive technology (AT). Practical implications The layered model of workarounds that locates them at the individual, social and organisational level can guide the design and analysis of enabling technologies in complex office work contexts. Technology designers can incorporate enquiries on workarounds into participatory or co-creative design processes. Information technology (IT) professionals and leaders of IT support teams can use this model to gain insights from workarounds into improvement opportunities for the effective integration of assistive technologies. Originality/value This study connects the concept of workarounds, which is deeply rooted in the tradition of workplace studies and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), with the practices of handling technology employed by knowledge workers with visual impairments to retain workability. This approach offers a novel perspective on the embeddedness of enabling technologies in the context of knowledge work. It highlights the intricate ways in which technology is integrated into daily work practices, thereby providing valuable insights into the intersection of AT and knowledge work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated hybrid working models and required new approaches to leadership and collaboration. This study reflects on a series of shorter stints of ethnographic fieldwork spanning over 14 months exploring the practical implications of hybrid work environments in SMEs. The primary focus of this paper is on the challenges encountered in accessing the research field during the ethnographic research. Our study highlights the challenges and opportunities that arise in the design and practical application of research in hybrid work environments in SMEs. It demonstrates that hybrid working conditions require flexible and adaptable research methods to capture the complex realities of modern work practices. Despite access issues and confidentiality concerns, the ethnographic approach provided valuable insights into the practices and structures of hybrid teams. This paper aims to stimulate discussion on effective research designs and strategies to support hybrid work environments and contribute to HCI research. By fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges of hybrid teams in SMEs, with an emphasis on the strategies for accessing these organizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated hybrid working models and required new approaches to leadership and collaboration. This study refects on a series of shorter stints of ethnographic feldwork spanning over 14 months exploring the practical implications of hybrid work environments in SMEs. The primary focus of this paper is on the challenges encountered in accessing the research feld during the ethnographic research. Our study highlights the challenges and opportunities that arise in the design and practical application of research in hybrid work environments in SMEs. It demonstrates that hybrid working conditions require fexible and adaptable research methods to capture the complex realities of modern work practices. Despite access issues and confdentiality concerns, the ethnographic approach provided valuable insights into the practices and structures of hybrid teams. This paper aims to stimulate discussion on effective research designs and strategies to support hybrid work environments and contribute to HCI research. By fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges of hybrid teams in SMEs, with an emphasis on the strategies for accessing these organizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development of alternative formats for religious rituals, such as Protestant online worship services. However, current design approaches focus on problem-solving, and the resulting online solutions merely imitate the offline status quo. To overcome these limitations, we suggest adopting a provotype approach that allows for a more holistic, open-ended dialogue with those affected. We iteratively developed a first provotype in response to tensions found in observation-based field research, aiming to test whether and how it can trigger productive impulses for exploring future technology-mediated worship services based on existing experiences and perspectives. The resulting God-I-Box exaggerates individuality and allows congregants to act almost like liturgists. An analysis of congregants’ and pastors’ (online) first encounters with the God-I-Box revealed three reaction modes: spontaneous emotions, reflective coping, and exploratory imagination. We conclude with reflections and recommendations for provocative research and design in this context and beyond.

This article focuses on the collaboration of hybrid teams in avatar-based virtual office environments. Based on the three dimensions of virtuality, we pursue the following research questions: (1) How is everyday work and collaboration coordinated in these environments? and (2) Which advantages and challenges do users perceive in relation to this form of work? Based on a multi-method study consisting of qualitative interviews with experienced users and a participatory focus group discussion with new users, we illustrate that collaboration in avatar-based work environments is marked by a diverse array of work practices-ranging from co-present to mobile work-and that promising implementation methods exist to coordinate these practices. However, our results also suggest that to exploit this potential, not only the virtual environments but also teams' work practices and digital infrastructure must be further developed.Practical relevance: The study discusses virtuality based on a currently used avatar-based work environment and illustrates the perspectives of experienced and new users on collaboration in these socio-technical work systems. Specifically, we present concrete implementations and challenges of collaborative work practices in these virtual environments, which offer orientation for practitioners interested in applying these solutions to their own work contexts.

Zusammenfassung Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Zusammenarbeit von hybrid arbeitenden Teams in avatar-basierten virtuellen Büroumgebungen. Ausgehend von den drei Dimensionen der Virtualität gehen wir folgenden Forschungsfragen nach: (1) Wie wird der Arbeitsalltag und die Zusammenarbeit in diesen Umgebungen koordiniert? und (2) Welche Vorteile und Herausforderungen sehen Nutzer*innen in Bezug auf avatar-basierte Arbeitsumgebungen? Auf Basis einer multi-methodischen Studie bestehend aus qualitativen Interviews mit erfahrenen Nutzer*innen und einer partizipativen Fokusgruppendiskussion mit neuen Nutzer*innen zeigen wir, dass Zusammenarbeit in avatar-basierten Arbeitsumgebungen in vielfältigen Arbeitsformen – von Ko-Präsenz bis zum mobilem Arbeiten – stattfindet und dass für die Koordination dieser Arbeitsmodi vielversprechende Ansätze zur Verfügung stehen. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen aber auch, dass für die Ausschöpfung dieses Potentials nicht nur die virtuellen Umgebungen selbst, sondern auch die kollaborativen Arbeitsformen und die digitale Infrastruktur von Teams konsequent weiterentwickelt werden müssen. Praktische Relevanz : Die Studie untersucht Virtualität anhand einer aktuell nutzerbaren, avatar-basierten Arbeitsumgebung und zeigt die Perspektiven erfahrener und neuer Nutzer*innen auf Zusammenarbeit innerhalb dieses soziotechnischen Arbeitssystems auf. Insbesondere werden konkrete kollaborative Arbeitspraktiken vorgestellt und deren Herausforderungen diskutiert, um potenziellen Nutzer*innen, die virtuelle Arbeitsumgebungen selbst anwenden möchten, eine Orientierung zu bieten.

This paper presents an inspirational concept for companion technology design, uncontrollability, and a corresponding artefact, the Blessing Companion. Both originated from a research through design project exploring companion technologies for blessing rituals. We established an exchange with Protestant theologians, explored believers' experiences of blessings, co-speculated on potential technologies, and refined the resulting ideas through ideation, prototyping, and testing. Inspired by believers' descriptions of blessing experiences as not plannable, predictable, controllable, or enforceable, we adopted the concept of uncontrollability, explored how it might be implemented in companion technologies, and designed the Blessing Companion. The Blessing Companion embodies uncontrollability through its ambiguous appearance and (partly) uncontrollable behaviour. It thus stands in contrast to the prevailing on-demand and user-driven interaction paradigms. We discuss how uncontrollability can be reflected in content, form, and interaction, highlight respective possibilities for companion technologies, and reflect on the Blessing Companion as an example of designing for religious rituals.

Life transitions, such as the transition from childhood to adulthood, are often accompanied by meaning-making actions such as rituals. Rituals increasingly involve the use of interactive technology. While previous research has focused on specific contexts or technologies, a bird's eye view of the many appropriation styles during life transitions is missing. To identify the range of technology's appropriations, we analysed stories from 84 participants and compared these across different life transitions and technologies. We identified three roles interactive technology can play during life transitions: the role of (i) a facilitator easing the accomplishment of tasks within life transitions, (ii) an enabler creating opportunities for new transition rituals and (iii) a social actor that itself is the trigger or the content of transition rituals. We propose the three roles as a classification scheme to structure existing and future research and reflect on the design challenges and evaluation approaches.

Ethnographic research has seen a steadily growing use of digital media in the past decades, and a particularly drastic surge since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Based on data from our own digitally mediated ethnographic research and theories from Media and Communication Studies, this paper will discuss and illustrate three main points regarding the use of digital communication platforms for research, particularly concerning knowledge exchange within teams. First, that the different platforms we use to interact digitally are not neutral tools, but themselves laden with meaning. Second, that basic assumptions of communication are not unrestrictedly tenable in the digital sphere. And third, that hybrid fieldwork settings, where both virtual and in-situ communication flows take place, entail further complexities that need to be considered in research. Since all of these points are related to aspects of visibility, this paper proposes a model to distinguish visible, uncertain and invisible communication flows and context information, and offers a concept for reflection on the use of digitally mediated research methods based on our main findings. While our data vividly illustrates the potential of digitally mediated fieldwork for research of communication-based collaboration in HCI contexts, this paper also highlights the substantial complexities it entails.

Ethnographic research has seen a steadily growing use of digital media in the past decades, and a particularly drastic surge since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Based on data from our own digitally mediated ethnographic research and theories from Media and Communication Studies, this paper will discuss and illustrate three main points regarding the use of digital communication platforms for research, particularly concerning knowledge exchange within teams. First, that the different platforms we use to interact digitally are not neutral tools, but themselves laden with meaning. Second, that basic assumptions of communication are not unrestrictedly tenable in the digital sphere. And third, that hybrid fieldwork settings, where both virtual and in-situ communication flows take place, entail further complexities that need to be considered in research. Since all of these points are related to aspects of visibility, this paper proposes a model to distinguish visible, uncertain and invisible communication flows and context information, and offers a concept for reflection on the use of digitally mediated research methods based on our main findings. While our data vividly illustrates the potential of digitally mediated fieldwork for research of communication-based collaboration in HCI contexts, this paper also highlights the substantial complexities it entails.