[dcchairs2016] UbiComp/ISWC 2016 Doctoral School notification - #101

[dcchairs2016 at ubicomp.org]

Dear Niek Zuidhof,

Please find enclosed the reviews for your submission for the Ubicomp/ISWC 2016 Doctoral School.

101: "Hybrid Humans: The influence of wearable technology in healthcare and the social domain"

Despite not being able to accept your submission at this year's Ubicomp/ISWC Doctoral School, committee members provided guidance and feedback on your submitted paper. We highly encourage you to follow the valuable advices that the committee member entered in their reviews towards improving on your doctoral work.

Thank you for submitting to the UbiComp 2014 Doctoral School.


Max Mühlhäuser
Nadir Weibel
Rene Mayrhofer

UbiComp 2016 Doctoral School Chairs


------------------------ Submission 101, Review 1 ------------------------

Title: Hybrid Humans: The influence of wearable technology in healthcare and the social domain


Confidence

   3  (Very confident - I am knowledgeable in the area)

Contribution to UbiComp

   This submission investigates the use and implementation of wearable
   technology in healthcare and the social domain to propose potential
   solutions to improve well being with wearable technology.

Overall Rating

   1  (Definite reject: I would argue strongly for rejecting this paper.)

The Review

   This is a very broad proposal that aims at uncovering opportunities to
   adopt wearables as a support for health and social domains. The key ideas
   and reflections on adoption, appropriation and application are
   compelling, and taking a social psychology approach on understanding
   these opportunities is interesting.

   However, the research plan is too broad and unspecific, although the
   author claims that the increased knowledge that will result from this
   work will inform Ubicomp, it is not clear how this will be accomplished
   in the specific case of Ubicomp.

   The work in general has potential to be influential, but need to be
   better scoped and a clear and specific path here is missing: the author
   want to engage in activities to uncover the three core factors presented
   here (adoption, appropriation and application), but it is not clear how
   this will be achieved (where, who, what specific domain, what has already
   been started in terms of being able to do that work).

   The feeling is that it is too early for a submission to a DC, and perhaps
   Ubicomp is the wrong forum for a DC submission. Results of this work
   could potentially inform Ubicomp researchers, but perhaps this work can
   be better suited in a more HCI-ish venue.


------------------------ Submission 101, Review 2 ------------------------

Title: Hybrid Humans: The influence of wearable technology in healthcare and the social domain


Confidence

   2  (Somewhat confident - I have passing knowledge)

Contribution to UbiComp

   This line of work aims to analyze the social and ethical effects of
   wearables in the healtcare domain. It is relevant to Ubicomp as a use
   case, but without a stronger emphasis on the technology itself not in the
   core Ubicomp topics.

Overall Rating

   3  (Maybe reject: I would agree with rejecting this paper.)

The Review

   The main problem with this submission is scope. Ubicomp, although
   interdisciplinary and traditionally very open to various contributions,
   is first and foremost a computer science conference (with a strong link
   to user interaction). As such, the concept of wearable computing has long
   been a topic, but from a more technological and usability point of view
   (i.e. the interface between end users and the technology). The wider
   social, ethical, or legal consequences are always strongly dependent on
   the specific technology under study.

   In its current form, this draft is still very vague in terms of the
   wearable devices that should be considered. There is a huge difference
   between e.g. simple smart watches, the use of body-word medical sensors,
   and the application of smart glasses to daily life. Without this
   technological focus, only vague answers to ethical and social questions
   seem possible. Ubicomp may therefore not be the best outlet for this line
   of work.

   On indication is the author's self-description as "Trained as a
   psychologist, the plan is to enroll in courses of philosophy, ethics,
   academic writing and methodology." I can only repeat that Ubicomp is
   primarily a compter science conference, and the DC will only be able to
   provide helpful input in areas directly related to CS.