Investigating Design Opportunities for Work-Life Balance Technologies

Abstract

The challenge of achieving work-life balance (WLB) is increasingly pronounced in modern society. Research suggests that technological advances, accelerated by COVID-19, have significantly transformed the already demanding work and life domains, with observations that note persistent blurring of boundaries due to the continuous use of technology in daily experiences. An imbalance in this spectrum has been linked to stress, diminished job performance, health problems, work family conflicts, etc. Existing research has not been able to fully resolve the issues of WLB. Therefore, this research will contribute to the literature by examining the design of technologies that support the negotiation of WLB using a practice-centered computing approach predicated on the Design Case Study (DCS) framework, comprising of three phases: pre-study, design, and appropriation. These stages employ a multi-method approach, incorporating interviews, ethnographic observations, ideation, prototyping, usability evaluation, to name but a few. Throughout the process, a comprehensive understanding of practices associated with the phenomenon of interest will be developed. This understanding will inform the design of technological artifacts, which, upon their appropriation, will result in the emergence of new practices.