(part 1 of 2) second-hand interactions: investigating reacquisition and dispossession practices...
DESCRIPTION
We present a qualitative study of reacquisition-the acquisition of previously possessed goods-involving in-depth interviews with 18 reacquirers within or nearby Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Based on critiques of sustainable consumption and our findings, we reframe technology consumption as acquisition, possession, dispossession and reacquisition. We present four reacquisition orientations describing our participants' motivations and practices: casual, necessary, critical, and experiential. We then present a range of findings including issues with work, time and effort involved in reacquisition, and values and practices of care and patience associated with invested reacquirers. We conclude with implications for designing technologies to support current reacquisition practices, as well as broader opportunities for HCI and interaction design to incorporate non-mainstream reacquisition practices and values into more mainstream technologies.TRANSCRIPT
Second-Hand InteractionsInvestigating Reaquisition & Dispossession
Practices around Domestic Objects
James Pierce & Eric Paulos
Carnegie Mellon University, HCII
Living Environments Lab
How can we design to support sustainable second-hand consumption practices?
What can we learn from second-hand consumers about “sustainable consumption” ?
Acquisition | Possession | Dispossesion | Reacquisition
Consumption
Study & Methods
Study & Methods
Observation at local second-hand sites (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Thrift stores
Vintage stores
Flea markets
Estate sales
Yard sales
Building material re-use
Trash and things left on the street
Study & Methods
18 In-Depth interviews with reacquirers
Findings
Findings4 Reacquisition orientations
1. Casual
2. Necessary
3. Critical
4. Experiential
1. Casual
2. Necessary
3. Critical
4. ExperientialInvested reacquirers
Findings4 Reacquisition orientations
Casual Reacquisition
Findings
Casual reacquisition | A cheaper alternative
Findings
Casual reacquisition | A cheaper alternative
“Sometimes I don’t have a lot of patience for [shopping at thrift stores]. ... If you don’t have a lot of free time or if you’re not feeling patient that day, [thrift stores are] not the best.”
Kristy, 20-something, dog walker
Necessary Reacquisition
Findings
Necessary reacquisition | A financial necessity
Joan, 30-something, unemployed
“I really don’t go out to go shopping unless I really need it, and I don’t. ... It’s just not as good. ... It’s a stressful, terrible thing. Then it was, you know, it was really cool...”
{invested reacquirers: part I}
Critical Reacquisition
Findings
Critical reacquisition | Reacquisition as a reflective and political practice
John, 30-something, self-employed sound engineer
Findings
Critical reacquisition | Reacquisition as a reflective and political practice
John, 30-something, self-employed sound engineer
[resisting “retail therapy”]
[“making things”]
[“give-away piles”]
{invested reacquirers: part II}
Experiential Reacquisition
Findings
Experiential reacquisition | Skill, satisfaction & discovery
Findings
Experiential reacquisition | Skill, satisfaction & discovery
Tanya, 30-something, skilled amateur interior designer and remodeler
“eBay is... it’s too much work almost. ... The experience of looking through page after page after page, It’s not as satisfying as going to the flea market and handling them.”
“I mean, where’s the satisfaction in typing in, ‘I want a blue—I want a turquoise blue vintage ashtray with a dolphin’, and three of them pop up. Is there any satisfaction in that?”
“[At flea markets] You might have to go for two years and finally, when you find that blue vintage ash tray with dolphins... when you find it you feel like, ‘I got it.’ ”
“work is underrated ”