Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
couples' social well-being
ubiquitous computing
relationship support
needs assessment
co-design
Supporting Couples'Social Well-being in Daily Life: A Needs Assessment and Co-design with Co-located Couples
🤖 AI Summary
This study addresses the limitation of existing intimate relationship support systems, which predominantly focus on individuals and struggle to define acceptable boundaries for partner perception and intervention in privacy-sensitive contexts. We propose a "couple-unit" centered design paradigm that integrates ubiquitous computing with large language models. Through needs-based interviews and participatory co-design, this work explores technological pathways to enhance relationship synchronization, specifically targeting conflict detection and subtle mediation. Preliminary findings demonstrate that moment-aware, non-directive interventions align more closely with couple preferences. Ultimately, this research offers critical design implications for relationship-aware technologies that balance both partners' agency, authenticity, and data control.
📝 Abstract
Romantic relationships shape physical, mental, and social well-being, and relationship quality is built through everyday interactions. Addressing minor issues early and reinforcing positive interactions help maintain relationship quality, and ubiquitous computing creates new opportunities to sense and support couples'relationships in daily life. However, existing systems remain largely developed with limited involvement from couples, raising questions about which types of sensing and support couples may accept in their private lives. To address this gap, we conducted exploratory needs-assessment interviews and co-design sessions with five co-located couples (10 participants) to identify their needs and preferences for relationship-attunement-enhancing technologies, including the use of LLMs. Couples'own designs converged on systems that detect meaningful moments---such as conflict onset---and offer subtle mediation rather than AI-generated advice, highlighting dyadic concerns around partners'agency, authenticity, and control over shared interaction data. We offer preliminary design implications for ubiquitous sensing and intervention systems that center the couple as a unit rather than the individual.
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
Co-design
Ubiquitous Computing
Large Language Models
Dyadic Interaction
Subtle Mediation
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