Designing meaningful future digital interactions: fostering wellbeing to reduce techno-induced stress

Since the rise of personal smart devices, the way humans interact with the world has been fundamentally transformed. These technologies, which extend far beyond basic computational tasks, now support or automate everyday activities and provide access to unprecedented information and connectivity. However, while personal smart devices have been heralded as essential tools for modern life, their pervasiveness has come at a cost, contributing to stress, cognitive overload, and a diminished sense of wellbeing. The widespread use of smartphones, in particular, has led to concerns about their detrimental effects on mental health, raising critical questions about how these devices shape human experience. The provocative question posed by architect Cedric Price in 1966, “Technology is the answer, but what was the question?” is now more relevant than ever, inviting a critical reassessment of our relationship with technology. This thesis aims to explore the impact of personal smart devices on mental wellbeing and how design can help foster healthier interactions. Using the Design for Meaning framework, this research investigates the underlying causes of techno-induced stress and cognitive overload. Through Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) interviews and Future Thinking approach, this study uncovers the emotional and subconscious responses users have towards their devices, seeking to understand why they continue to use these technologies despite their negative effects. The insights gained were then used to develop future scenarios and design guidelines that support a meaningful and balanced relationship with technology, steering towards a future that prioritises wellbeing over constant connectivity. Ultimately, this research aims to guide designers and innovators towards creating future meaningful personal smart devices that are not only useful but also emotionally fulfilling, enabling users to achieve a sense of empowerment rather than dependency. This thesis aims to explore the impact of personal smart devices on mental well-being and how design can help foster healthier interactions. Using the Design for Meaning framework, this research investigates the underlying causes of techno-induced stress and cognitive overload. Through Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) interviews and Future Thinking approach, this study uncovers the emotional and subconscious responses users have towards their devices, seeking to understand why they continue to use these technologies despite their negative effects. The insights gained were then used to develop future scenarios and design guidelines that support a meaningful and balanced relationship with technology, steering towards a future that prioritises well-being over constant connectivity. Ultimately, this research aims to guide designers and innovators towards creating future meaningful personal smart devices that are not only useful but also emotionally fulfilling, enabling users to achieve a sense of empowerment rather than dependency.

Con l’avvento dei dispositivi intelligenti personali, il modo in cui gli esseri umani interagiscono con il mondo si è radicalmente trasformato. Queste tecnologie, andando ben oltre i compiti computazionali di base, supportano o automatizzano le attività quotidiane e forniscono accesso a informazioni e connettività senza precedenti. Tuttavia, sebbene i dispositivi smart personali siano stati celebrati come strumenti essenziali per la vita moderna, la loro pervasività ha comportato un costo, contribuendo a stress, sovraccarico cognitivo e a una diminuzione del senso di benessere. L’ampia diffusione degli smartphone, in particolare, ha sollevato preoccupazioni riguardo i loro effetti negativi sulla salute mentale, sollevando interrogativi critici su come questi dispositivi influenzino l’esperienza umana. La provocatoria domanda posta dall’architetto Cedric Price nel 1966, “Technology is the answer, but what was the question?”, è ora più rilevante che mai, invitando a una rivalutazione critica del nostro rapporto con la tecnologia. Questa tesi si propone di esplorare l’impatto dei dispositivi smart personali sul benessere mentale e su come il design possa favorire interazioni più salutari. Utilizzando il framework Design for Meaning, questa ricerca indaga le cause sottostanti dello stress indotto dalla tecnologia e del sovraccarico cognitivo. Attraverso interviste utilizzando la Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) e un approccio di Future Thinking, lo studio rivela le risposte emotive e subconsce degli utenti verso i loro dispositivi, cercando di comprendere perché continuano ad utilizzare queste tecnologie nonostante i loro effetti negativi. Gli spunti ottenuti sono stati poi utilizzati per sviluppare scenari futuri e linee guida di design che supportano un rapporto significativo e equilibrato con la tecnologia, orientandosi verso un futuro che dà priorità al benessere piuttosto che alla connettività costante. In ultima analisi, questa ricerca mira a guidare designer e innovatori verso la creazione di futuri dispositivi smart personali significativi che non siano solo utili, ma anche emotivamente appaganti, permettendo agli utenti di raggiungere un senso di empowerment anziché di dipendenza.