Grandtotem: Supporting International and Intergenerational Relationships [conference paper]

Three people with connection above they head illustration

Conference

The 23rd ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing - October 20, 2020

Authors

Mark Butzer, Zachary Levonian (Ph.D. student), Yangyang Luo, Kathleen Watson, Ye Yuan (Ph.D. student), C. Estelle Smith (Ph.D. student), Svetlana Yarosh (associate professor)

Abstract

The grandchild-grandparent relationship faces unique challenges among international students. We developed the Grandtotem, which functions as a focal point for family ritual, a photo frame, and a relationship media album. Research with international student grandchildren helped to identify three dimensions along which their relationships with grandparents must adapt: (1) technology, (2) physical barriers, and (3) changing roles. Initial design feedback suggests that the Grandtotem is a promising tool for strengthening the social fabric during a difficult time of cultural transition.

Link to full paper

Grandtotem: Supporting International and Intergenerational Relationships

Keywords

human computer interaction, social computing