Exploring the Quantified Experience: Finding Spaces for People and Their Voices in Smarter, More Responsive Cities

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore the quantified experience in the context of finding spaces for people and their voices in smarter and more responsive cities. Using the construct of awareness, this exploration is situated theoretically at the intersection of affective computing, social computing, and pervasive computing. This paper problematizes the quantified experience in human computer interactions (HCI), arguing for smart and responsive cities to be enabled by more aware people interacting with and influencing aware technologies. Aware people and aware technologies refer to the dynamic interweaving of sensing, sensors, and sensor networks through the Internet of Things (IoT), the Internet of People (IoP), and the Internet of Experiences. The methodology for this paper includes an exploratory case study approach and the research design incorporates multiple methods of data collection including survey and interviews. Findings from this work highlight the need for qualitative data using content analysis and other analytic techniques to augment, complement, and enhance the quantitative data being generated and gathered in urban spaces. This work is significant in that it: (a) explores elements of the contemporary urban quantified experience through the lens of awareness and the sub-constructs of adaptability and openness; (b) advances a framework for people-aware quantified experiences in support of spaces for people and their voices in smarter, more responsive cities; and (c) further develops and innovates the research and practice literature for smart and responsive cities, in relation to people-aware quantified experiences.