You are cordially invited to join us for the Proposal Defense of Lily Rajan, to be held on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, via Zoom from 1-3 p.m. PST. 

Title: Encountering ambiguity in information systems: from classification theory to design approaches

Abstract:

Representation marks intention, whether it is to record presence, facilitate access, or advocate for resources such as shelf space or funding. Because of these intentions, the literature of classification historically has been concerned with disambiguation, which is intended to create stable, accurate and faithful representations. Critical scholars have turned attention to the role of power in the act of sorting, asking who gets to decide how things are represented.  Whether we are concerned with the description of an individual item or the construction of a category, the harms wrought or perpetuated by these systems, often discussed in terms of “othering,” have been well documented. My research builds on these questions of harm and justice, but looks also for forms of uncertainty, invisibility or erasure that might strike us as more benign. Ambiguity is generally seen or experienced through an encounter with a representation that leads to confusion, argument, distrust or inability to navigate a system. My research will explore various stages of the representation process in which ambiguity appears or occurs. By disambiguating ambiguity, I hope to highlight the circumstances and structures that make ambiguity harmful in some cases and merely inefficient in others, while also understanding when and how ambiguity may be an affordance. 

In interviews with individuals engaged in various types of representation, from system designers to end users, I will ask both what renders something ambiguous and how that encounter is navigated. Through these interviews and participatory design activities, my work will develop a vocabulary and method for encountering ambiguity. These encounters may allow us to better understand the particular issues that lead to ambiguity, as well as its consequences. It is hoped that this framework will allow practitioners to respond appropriately to particular cases of ambiguity. Further, it may highlight possible ameliorations or design approaches for addressing these issues.

Zoom Link Details:

https://washington.zoom.us/j/99035045535?pwd=NWc3djBGR2JlaFFNT2ZURFRtb1BJQT09

Meeting ID: 990 3504 5535

Passcode: 652078

Supervisory Committee:

• Joe Tennis, Chair
• Christine Harold, GSR
• David Levy, Member
• Marika Cifor, Member
• Melanie Feinberg, Member