Abstract
The consumption of a solo meal is often subject to negative associations. Studies indicate that solo diners use information and communication technology (ICT) devices such as smartphones, to mitigate negative experiences such as boredom and loneliness, especially when dining in a public context. However, we know less about the motivation to use such devices and consequent meal experiences in a private context. For this exploratory qualitative study, we asked participants to fill out a cultural probe kit to capture their dining experience and use of ICT devices over a period of seven days. Once completed, the content was discussed with participants during a semi-structured interview. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis in a deductive and inductive form leading to four themes: (1) The experience of eating with others; (2) The use of electronic devices while eating; (3) The meaning of food; and (4) Relaxing features and influences. Participants indicated that eating alone can be a pleasurable experience that people enjoy and perceive as relaxing. ICT devices were named to play an essential part in the dining experience. The entertainment that devices provide can mitigate feelings of loneliness and uncomfortable silence when eating by oneself. We reflect on the findings and point out potential design avenues for future studies.
Highlights
The consumption of food is a biological requirement, but food and the context of eating can carry significant symbolic and cultural meaning within society (Visser, 2015; Abarca, 2021; Jönsson et al, 2021)
We aim to explore how young adults experience solitary dinners at home, what the role of digital technology as part of solitary dining experiences currently is and if concepts mentioned in the literature play a role in the current solo dining experiences
We developed a cultural probe kit to help participants reflect on the role of information and communication technology (ICT) devices as part of the dining experience
Summary
The consumption of food is a biological requirement, but food and the context of eating can carry significant symbolic and cultural meaning within society (Visser, 2015; Abarca, 2021; Jönsson et al, 2021). The act of eating together can create a sense of bonding by establishing a personal food atmosphere rather than a strictly professional one (Fischler, 2011). Anecdotal reports and qualitative studies indicate that the use of information and communication technology (ICT) devices in the context of solo dining events can help to mitigate negative experiences such as boredom and even create a sense of relaxation (Toh et al, 2019; Brown et al, 2020; Lemke and Schifferstein, 2021). In the context of human-computer interaction (HCI), the use of digital technology as part of shared meals has attracted increased research interest (Niewiadomski et al, 2019; Spence et al, 2019) and different projects have investigated how technology can be created to support and recreate
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