2024

• ---

  Abokhodair, N., Skop, Y., Rüller, S., Aal, K. & Elmimouni, H. (2024)Opaque algorithms, transparent biases: Automated content moderation during the Sheikh Jarrah Crisis

  IN First Monday doi:10.5210/fm.v29i4.13620
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  Social media platforms, while influential tools for human rights activism, free speech, and mobilization, also bear the influence of corporate ownership and commercial interests. This dual character can lead to clashing interests in the operations of these platforms. This study centers on the May 2021 Sheikh Jarrah events in East Jerusalem, a focal point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that garnered global attention. During this period, Palestinian activists and their allies observed and encountered a notable increase in automated content moderation actions, like shadow banning and content removal. We surveyed 201 users who faced content moderation and conducted 12 interviews with political influencers to assess the impact of these practices on activism. Our analysis centers on automated content moderation and transparency, investigating how users and activists perceive the content moderation systems employed by social media platforms, and their opacity. Findings reveal perceived censorship by pro-Palestinian activists due to opaque and obfuscated technological mechanisms of content demotion, complicating harm substantiation and lack of redress mechanisms. We view this difficulty as part of algorithmic harms, in the realm of automated content moderation. This dynamic has far-reaching implications for activism’s future and it raises questions about power centralization in digital spaces.

  @article{abokhodair_opaque_2024,
  title = {Opaque algorithms, transparent biases: {Automated} content moderation during the {Sheikh} {Jarrah} {Crisis}},
  copyright = {Copyright (c) 2024 First Monday},
  issn = {1396-0466},
  shorttitle = {Opaque algorithms, transparent biases},
  url = {https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/13620},
  doi = {10.5210/fm.v29i4.13620},
  abstract = {Social media platforms, while influential tools for human rights activism, free speech, and mobilization, also bear the influence of corporate ownership and commercial interests. This dual character can lead to clashing interests in the operations of these platforms. This study centers on the May 2021 Sheikh Jarrah events in East Jerusalem, a focal point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that garnered global attention. During this period, Palestinian activists and their allies observed and encountered a notable increase in automated content moderation actions, like shadow banning and content removal. We surveyed 201 users who faced content moderation and conducted 12 interviews with political influencers to assess the impact of these practices on activism. Our analysis centers on automated content moderation and transparency, investigating how users and activists perceive the content moderation systems employed by social media platforms, and their opacity. Findings reveal perceived censorship by pro-Palestinian activists due to opaque and obfuscated technological mechanisms of content demotion, complicating harm substantiation and lack of redress mechanisms. We view this difficulty as part of algorithmic harms, in the realm of automated content moderation. This dynamic has far-reaching implications for activism’s future and it raises questions about power centralization in digital spaces.},
  language = {en},
  urldate = {2024-04-18},
  journal = {First Monday},
  author = {Abokhodair, Norah and Skop, Yarden and Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Elmimouni, Houda},
  month = apr,
  year = {2024},
  }

• ---

  Elmimouni, H., Skop, Y., Abokhodair, N., Rüller, S., Aal, K., Weibert, A., Al-Dawood, A., Wulf, V. & Tolmie, P. (2024)Shielding or Silencing?: An Investigation into Content Moderation during the Sheikh Jarrah Crisis

  IN Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 8, Pages: 6:1–6:21 doi:10.1145/3633071
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  Social media technologies have been empowering to some human rights activists, providing a platform for exercising free speech and mobilization. However, many activists have voiced concerns and shared experiences they understand as considerable censorship on these platforms, under the guise of content governance. In an effort to increase the understanding and transparency of content moderation practices during conflicts, this study investigates the perceived reasons for censorship as understood by activists and the explanations made visible to activists by social media platforms, if any were given. Our case study to examine these platforms-activists relations is the events which occurred in May 2021 in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which was a significant moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and garnered international attention. The over enforcement of content moderation faced by Palestinians and their allies during these events on social media raised concerns about freedom of speech and the role of technology in activism. Our study deepens understanding through findings from a survey of 201 social media users who reported potentially unfair moderation decisions, and from 12 interviews with political influencers to grasp the broader implications of content moderation on activism. The findings of this study indicate a substantial disparity between the official explanations made visible to the activists by the social media platforms, and the reasons as perceived by users. This has significant implications, both socially and for social media platforms – as CSCW and Group work environments –- on activist groups and the potentialities of democratic discourse. This study serves as an important contribution to the debate on the role of social media content moderation in human rights activism, particularly in conflict zones.

  @article{elmimouni_shielding_2024,
  title = {Shielding or {Silencing}?: {An} {Investigation} into {Content} {Moderation} during the {Sheikh} {Jarrah} {Crisis}},
  volume = {8},
  shorttitle = {Shielding or {Silencing}?},
  url = {https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3633071},
  doi = {10.1145/3633071},
  abstract = {Social media technologies have been empowering to some human rights activists, providing a platform for exercising free speech and mobilization. However, many activists have voiced concerns and shared experiences they understand as considerable censorship on these platforms, under the guise of content governance. In an effort to increase the understanding and transparency of content moderation practices during conflicts, this study investigates the perceived reasons for censorship as understood by activists and the explanations made visible to activists by social media platforms, if any were given. Our case study to examine these platforms-activists relations is the events which occurred in May 2021 in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which was a significant moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and garnered international attention. The over enforcement of content moderation faced by Palestinians and their allies during these events on social media raised concerns about freedom of speech and the role of technology in activism. Our study deepens understanding through findings from a survey of 201 social media users who reported potentially unfair moderation decisions, and from 12 interviews with political influencers to grasp the broader implications of content moderation on activism. The findings of this study indicate a substantial disparity between the official explanations made visible to the activists by the social media platforms, and the reasons as perceived by users. This has significant implications, both socially and for social media platforms -- as CSCW and Group work environments --- on activist groups and the potentialities of democratic discourse. This study serves as an important contribution to the debate on the role of social media content moderation in human rights activism, particularly in conflict zones.},
  number = {GROUP},
  urldate = {2024-02-26},
  journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction},
  author = {Elmimouni, Houda and Skop, Yarden and Abokhodair, Norah and Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Weibert, Anne and Al-Dawood, Adel and Wulf, Volker and Tolmie, Peter},
  month = feb,
  year = {2024},
  keywords = {fairness, activism, social media, accountability, algorithm bias, bias, Palestine, Sheikh Jarrah, transparency},
  pages = {6:1--6:21},
  }

2023

• ---

  Weibert, A., Aal, K., Rüller, S., Rohde, M. & Wulf, V. (2023)Crafting Home with E-Textiles: Accessing Concepts of the Home in a Socially and Culturally Diverse Setting

  IN Digital Culture & Society, Vol. 9, Pages: 213–222 doi:10.14361/dcs-2023-0111
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  Der Artikel Crafting Home with E-Textiles: Accessing Concepts of the Home in a Socially and Culturally Diverse Setting wurde am 1. September 2023 in der Zeitschrift Digital Culture & Society (Band 9, Heft 1) veröffentlicht.

  @article{weibert_crafting_2023,
  title = {Crafting {Home} with {E}-{Textiles}: {Accessing} {Concepts} of the {Home} in a {Socially} and {Culturally} {Diverse} {Setting}},
  volume = {9},
  copyright = {De Gruyter expressly reserves the right to use all content for commercial text and data mining within the meaning of Section 44b of the German Copyright Act.},
  issn = {2364-2122},
  shorttitle = {Crafting {Home} with {E}-{Textiles}},
  url = {https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.14361/dcs-2023-0111/html},
  doi = {10.14361/dcs-2023-0111},
  abstract = {Der Artikel Crafting Home with E-Textiles: Accessing Concepts of the Home in a Socially and Culturally Diverse Setting wurde am 1. September 2023 in der Zeitschrift Digital Culture \& Society (Band 9, Heft 1) veröffentlicht.},
  language = {en},
  number = {1},
  urldate = {2023-09-12},
  journal = {Digital Culture \& Society},
  author = {Weibert, Anne and Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Rohde, Markus and Wulf, Volker},
  month = sep,
  year = {2023},
  note = {Publisher: transcript Verlag},
  pages = {213--222},
  }

• ---

  Rüller, S., Aal, K., Tolmie, P., Randall, D., Rohde, M. & Wulf, V. (2023)Rurality and Tourism in Transition: How Digitalization Transforms the Character and Landscape of the Tourist Economy in Rural Morocco

  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  The character of rural Morocco is changing due to increasing tourism and social media usage. This paper outlines the different consequences of ICT usage among people working in the tourism sector as part of the transitional economy in a remote area. In this region, tourism has grown into one major income sources for a few valley inhabitants – mostly men with a school education, digital and language skills, and who are financially stable. As this transitional economy evolves alongside digitalization and ICT usage and therefore a change of the region’s rural character, it leads to challenges and concerns for the local population. This ethnographic study analyzes the interdependence of increasing tourism through digitalization and the notion of rurality as a resource from a sociotechnical perspective.

  @book{ruller_rurality_2023,
  title = {Rurality and {Tourism} in {Transition}: {How} {Digitalization} {Transforms} the {Character} and {Landscape} of the {Tourist} {Economy} in {Rural} {Morocco}},
  isbn = {978-0-9981331-6-4},
  shorttitle = {Rurality and {Tourism} in {Transition}},
  url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10125/103119},
  abstract = {The character of rural Morocco is changing due to increasing tourism and social media usage. This paper outlines the different consequences of ICT usage among people working in the tourism sector as part of the transitional economy in a remote area. In this region, tourism has grown into one major income sources for a few valley inhabitants – mostly men with a school education, digital and language skills, and who are financially stable. As this transitional economy evolves alongside digitalization and ICT usage and therefore a change of the region’s rural character, it leads to challenges and concerns for the local population. This ethnographic study analyzes the interdependence of increasing tourism through digitalization and the notion of rurality as a resource from a sociotechnical perspective.},
  language = {eng},
  urldate = {2023-01-10},
  author = {Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Tolmie, Peter and Randall, David and Rohde, Markus and Wulf, Volker},
  month = jan,
  year = {2023},
  }

• ---

  Aal, K., Rüller, S., Tolmie, P. & Wulf, V. (2023)The orchestration of activist events: Making protests heard (and seen)

  IN Global Media Coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Reporting the Sheikh Jarrah Evictions, Pages: 139
  [BibTeX]

  @article{aal_orchestration_2023,
  title = {The orchestration of activist events: {Making} protests heard (and seen)},
  journal = {Global Media Coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Reporting the Sheikh Jarrah Evictions},
  author = {Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Tolmie, Peter and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2023},
  note = {Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing},
  pages = {139},
  }

2022

• ---

  Rüller, S., Aal, K., Tolmie, P., Hartmann, A., Rohde, M. & Wulf, V. (2022)Speculative Design as a Collaborative Practice: Ameliorating the Consequences of Illiteracy through Digital Touch

  IN ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, Vol. 29, Pages: 23:1–23:58 doi:10.1145/3487917
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This article and the design fictions it presents are bound up with an ongoing qualitative-ethnographic study with Imazighen, the native people in remote Morocco. This group of people is marked by textual and digital illiteracy. We are in the process of developing multi-modal design fictions that can be used in workshops as a starting point for the co-development of further design fictions that envision the local population’s desired digital futures. The design fictions take the form of storyboards, allowing for a non-textual engagement. The current content seeks to explore challenges, potentials, margins, and limitations for the future design of haptic and touch-sensitive technology as a means for interpersonal communication and information procurement. Design fictions provide a way of exposing the locals to possible digital futures so that they can actively engage with them and explore the bounds and confines of their literacy and the extent to which it matters.

  @article{ruller_speculative_2022,
  title = {Speculative {Design} as a {Collaborative} {Practice}: {Ameliorating} the {Consequences} of {Illiteracy} through {Digital} {Touch}},
  volume = {29},
  issn = {1073-0516},
  shorttitle = {Speculative {Design} as a {Collaborative} {Practice}},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3487917},
  doi = {10.1145/3487917},
  abstract = {This article and the design fictions it presents are bound up with an ongoing qualitative-ethnographic study with Imazighen, the native people in remote Morocco. This group of people is marked by textual and digital illiteracy. We are in the process of developing multi-modal design fictions that can be used in workshops as a starting point for the co-development of further design fictions that envision the local population's desired digital futures. The design fictions take the form of storyboards, allowing for a non-textual engagement. The current content seeks to explore challenges, potentials, margins, and limitations for the future design of haptic and touch-sensitive technology as a means for interpersonal communication and information procurement. Design fictions provide a way of exposing the locals to possible digital futures so that they can actively engage with them and explore the bounds and confines of their literacy and the extent to which it matters.},
  number = {3},
  urldate = {2022-01-18},
  journal = {ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction},
  author = {Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Tolmie, Peter and Hartmann, Andrea and Rohde, Markus and Wulf, Volker},
  month = jan,
  year = {2022},
  keywords = {participatory design, design fiction, haptic technology, Illiteracy, imazighen, scenario-based design, speculative design, touch-sensitive technology},
  pages = {23:1--23:58},
  }

• ---

  Unbehaun, D., Coskun, A., Jensen, J., Aal, K., Rüller, S. & Wulf, V. (2022)Designing Multimodal Augmented- Reality Approaches in Sports: Collaborative and Competitive Scenarios for Individual and Group-based Outdoor Interaction

  doi:10.48340/ecscw2022_p06
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This work presents a prototype for a multimodal and augmented (AR) based System designed for individual and joint activities in outdoor sports. Based on the need for social interaction and computer-supported collaborative sports and the decreasing physical activity across all ages, game scenarios for the context of outdoor sports were formulated and implemented with a head-worn multimodal AR interface. The System’s innovation, flexibility, and multimodality found the basis for multiple use cases, such as professional and leisure, individual and group contexts. The technical infrastructure allows multimodal experiences while tracking and monitoring data such as movement speed, location, and heart rate. Within several game scenarios, players can cooperatively and competitively challenge themselves and other players to improve their physical activity playfully. This work is an inspiration and orientation for future research, development, and design of gamified AR exercising technologies.

  @article{unbehaun_designing_2022,
  title = {Designing {Multimodal} {Augmented}- {Reality} {Approaches} in {Sports}: {Collaborative} and {Competitive} {Scenarios} for {Individual} and {Group}-based {Outdoor} {Interaction}},
  issn = {2510-2591},
  shorttitle = {Designing {Multimodal} {Augmented}- {Reality} {Approaches} in {Sports}},
  url = {https://dl.eusset.eu/handle/20.500.12015/4391},
  doi = {10.48340/ecscw2022_p06},
  abstract = {This work presents a prototype for a multimodal and augmented (AR) based System designed for individual and joint activities in outdoor sports. Based on the need for social interaction and computer-supported collaborative sports and the decreasing physical activity across all ages, game scenarios for the context of outdoor sports were formulated and implemented with a head-worn multimodal AR interface. The System's innovation, flexibility, and multimodality found the basis for multiple use cases, such as professional and leisure, individual and group contexts. The technical infrastructure allows multimodal experiences while tracking and monitoring data such as movement speed, location, and heart rate. Within several game scenarios, players can cooperatively and competitively challenge themselves and other players to improve their physical activity playfully. This work is an inspiration and orientation for future research, development, and design of gamified AR exercising technologies.},
  language = {en},
  urldate = {2022-06-27},
  author = {Unbehaun, David and Coskun, Aydin and Jensen, Jule and Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2022},
  note = {Accepted: 2022-06-22T04:27:27Z
  Publisher: European Society for Socially Embedded Technologies (EUSSET)},
  }

• ---

  Unbehaun, D., Mall, C., Ellinger, J., Coskun, A., Jensen, J., Aal, K., Rüller, S., Moritz, E., Meixner, C., Plangger, U. & Wulf, V. (2022)Augmented-Reality Approaches in Computer Supported Collaborative Sports: Early Empirical Insights explored from and designed with with Sport Associations

  doi:10.48340/ecscw2022_p07
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This work presents a practice-based design and research approach that was used to explore individual, contextual, and institutional requirements, conceptualize and design AR-based Outdoor-scenarios for individual and joint activities in outdoor sports. Based on the need for social interaction and computer-supported collaborative sports and the decreasing physical activity across all ages, game scenarios for the context of outdoor sports were formulated and implemented with a head-worn multimodal AR interface. Members from seven different sports associations were interviewed and design workshops conducted to understand how to design AR-applications to promote an active lifestyle. The prototype and approach presented here will serve to discuss and reflect our future research activities, methodological concepts, and experiences in the field of HCI, CSCS, CSCW, and Design Communities.

  @article{unbehaun_augmented-reality_2022,
  title = {Augmented-{Reality} {Approaches} in {Computer} {Supported} {Collaborative} {Sports}: {Early} {Empirical} {Insights} explored from and designed with with {Sport} {Associations}},
  issn = {2510-2591},
  shorttitle = {Augmented-{Reality} {Approaches} in {Computer} {Supported} {Collaborative} {Sports}},
  url = {https://dl.eusset.eu/handle/20.500.12015/4392},
  doi = {10.48340/ecscw2022_p07},
  abstract = {This work presents a practice-based design and research approach that was used to explore individual, contextual, and institutional requirements, conceptualize and design AR-based Outdoor-scenarios for individual and joint activities in outdoor sports. Based on the need for social interaction and computer-supported collaborative sports and the decreasing physical activity across all ages, game scenarios for the context of outdoor sports were formulated and implemented with a head-worn multimodal AR interface. Members from seven different sports associations were interviewed and design workshops conducted to understand how to design AR-applications to promote an active lifestyle. The prototype and approach presented here will serve to discuss and reflect our future research activities, methodological concepts, and experiences in the field of HCI, CSCS, CSCW, and Design Communities.},
  language = {en},
  urldate = {2022-06-27},
  author = {Unbehaun, David and Mall, Christoph and Ellinger, Jan and Coskun, Aydin and Jensen, Jule and Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Moritz, Eckehard and Meixner, Charlotte and Plangger, Urban and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2022},
  note = {Accepted: 2022-06-22T04:27:27Z
  Publisher: European Society for Socially Embedded Technologies (EUSSET)},
  }

2021

• ---

  Wulf, V., Weibert, A., Aal, K., Rüller, S. & Rohde, M. (2021)The Praxeological Research Programme of Socio-Informatics – the Siegen School

  IN Acta Informatica Pragensia, Vol. 10, Pages: 333–348 doi:10.18267/j.aip.171
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This paper introduces the praxeologically grounded research programme on socio-informatics developed at the University of Siegen and the International Institute for Socio-Informatics in Germany. We outline our methodological framework of grounded design, guiding and binding together a variety of different engagements in practice which we call design case studies (DCS). While grounded design is applied to a broad variety of different areas, in this paper we deal specifically with our engagements in support of communities and political activists. To exemplify our approach, we present one DCS: It focuses on the participatory development of a computer club in the High Atlas as a facilitation infrastructure to support public community participation in the process of modernization and social transformation in the Maghreb. Insights into the project context, the objectives and methodology and the depiction of some of its first findings lays the ground for the discussion of socio-informatics research principles.

  @article{wulf_praxeological_2021,
  title = {The {Praxeological} {Research} {Programme} of {Socio}-{Informatics} - the {Siegen} {School}},
  volume = {10},
  issn = {18054951, 18054951},
  url = {http://aip.vse.cz/doi/10.18267/j.aip.171.html},
  doi = {10.18267/j.aip.171},
  abstract = {This paper introduces the praxeologically grounded research programme on socio-informatics developed at the University of Siegen and the International Institute for Socio-Informatics in Germany. We outline our methodological framework of grounded design, guiding and binding together a variety of different engagements in practice which we call design case studies (DCS). While grounded design is applied to a broad variety of different areas, in this paper we deal specifically with our engagements in support of communities and political activists. To exemplify our approach, we present one DCS: It focuses on the participatory development of a computer club in the High Atlas as a facilitation infrastructure to support public community participation in the process of modernization and social transformation in the Maghreb. Insights into the project context, the objectives and methodology and the depiction of some of its first findings lays the ground for the discussion of socio-informatics research principles.},
  language = {en},
  number = {3},
  urldate = {2022-01-27},
  journal = {Acta Informatica Pragensia},
  author = {Wulf, Volker and Weibert, Anne and Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Rohde, Markus},
  month = dec,
  year = {2021},
  pages = {333--348},
  }

• ---

  Rüller, S., Aal, K., Holdermann, S., Tolmie, P., Hartmann, A., Rohde, M., Zillinger, M. & Wulf, V. (2021)‘Technology is Everywhere, we have the Opportunity to Learn it in the Valley’: The Appropriation of a Socio-Technical Enabling Infrastructure in the Moroccan High Atlas

  IN Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) doi:10.1007/s10606-021-09401-8
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This paper describes the appropriation processes involved in establishing a socio-technical enabling infrastructure in a valley in the High Atlas of Morocco. We focus on the challenges of co-establishing such an intervention in a rural/mountainous region that is already undergoing a process of continuous development and profound transformation. We reflect upon the changes and unforeseen appropriation by our local partners and inhabitants in the valley of a computer club primarily used as an informal learning centre for school children. We followed an ethnographic approach and combined research perspectives from both socio-informatics and anthropology. This paper sheds light on what a successful cooperation and intervention in this kind of challenging environment can look like. It does this by taking seriously competing expectations, fragile infrastructural foundations and the socio-cultural context. Despite the challenges, the intervention managed to lead to the establishment of a socio-technical enabling infrastructure that plays a particularly valuable role in local educational endeavours and that is now moving towards supporting other members of the community. The paper thus provides insights regarding what has to be considered to create a mutually beneficial cooperation with all relevant stakeholders as well as a sustainable intervention.

  @article{ruller_technology_2021,
  title = {‘{Technology} is {Everywhere}, we have the {Opportunity} to {Learn} it in the {Valley}’: {The} {Appropriation} of a {Socio}-{Technical} {Enabling} {Infrastructure} in the {Moroccan} {High} {Atlas}},
  issn = {1573-7551},
  shorttitle = {‘{Technology} is {Everywhere}, we have the {Opportunity} to {Learn} it in the {Valley}’},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-021-09401-8},
  doi = {10.1007/s10606-021-09401-8},
  abstract = {This paper describes the appropriation processes involved in establishing a socio-technical enabling infrastructure in a valley in the High Atlas of Morocco. We focus on the challenges of co-establishing such an intervention in a rural/mountainous region that is already undergoing a process of continuous development and profound transformation. We reflect upon the changes and unforeseen appropriation by our local partners and inhabitants in the valley of a computer club primarily used as an informal learning centre for school children. We followed an ethnographic approach and combined research perspectives from both socio-informatics and anthropology. This paper sheds light on what a successful cooperation and intervention in this kind of challenging environment can look like. It does this by taking seriously competing expectations, fragile infrastructural foundations and the socio-cultural context. Despite the challenges, the intervention managed to lead to the establishment of a socio-technical enabling infrastructure that plays a particularly valuable role in local educational endeavours and that is now moving towards supporting other members of the community. The paper thus provides insights regarding what has to be considered to create a mutually beneficial cooperation with all relevant stakeholders as well as a sustainable intervention.},
  language = {en},
  urldate = {2021-11-15},
  journal = {Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)},
  author = {Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Holdermann, Simon and Tolmie, Peter and Hartmann, Andrea and Rohde, Markus and Zillinger, Martin and Wulf, Volker},
  month = nov,
  year = {2021},
  }

2020

• ---

  Rüller, S., Aal, K., Mouratidis, M. & Wulf, V. (2020)Messy Fieldwork: A Natural Necessity or a Result of Western Origins and Perspectives?

  Companion Publication of the 2020 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference. New York, NY, USA, Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery, Pages: 185–190 doi:10.1145/3393914.3395864
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  With this Provocation, we aim at starting a dialogue between researchers who struggle with applying qualitative and ethnographic methods and following approaches in non-Western settings. Going by the book might not be an option when conducting research in politically charged or un-stable regions. Local politics, social pressure and even people’s personal safety are aspects that require consideration. Based on our experience from conducting fieldwork in Morocco, Palestine and Botswana, we reflect upon the difficulties we came across. We argue that, messiness, to some extent comes naturally with immersive fieldwork. On the other hand, in order to find ‚clean‘ ways of conducting ethnographic fieldwork in non-Western contexts, novel forms of (applying) methods are needed. By providing questions regarding three different aspects (applying methods on the Ground, Ethics, and Participation) we encourage researchers to reflect upon their own experiences.

  @inproceedings{ruller_messy_2020,
  address = {New York, NY, USA},
  series = {{DIS}' 20 {Companion}},
  title = {Messy {Fieldwork}: {A} {Natural} {Necessity} or a {Result} of {Western} {Origins} and {Perspectives}?},
  isbn = {978-1-4503-7987-8},
  shorttitle = {Messy {Fieldwork}},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3393914.3395864},
  doi = {10.1145/3393914.3395864},
  abstract = {With this Provocation, we aim at starting a dialogue between researchers who struggle with applying qualitative and ethnographic methods and following approaches in non-Western settings. Going by the book might not be an option when conducting research in politically charged or un-stable regions. Local politics, social pressure and even people's personal safety are aspects that require consideration. Based on our experience from conducting fieldwork in Morocco, Palestine and Botswana, we reflect upon the difficulties we came across. We argue that, messiness, to some extent comes naturally with immersive fieldwork. On the other hand, in order to find 'clean' ways of conducting ethnographic fieldwork in non-Western contexts, novel forms of (applying) methods are needed. By providing questions regarding three different aspects (applying methods on the Ground, Ethics, and Participation) we encourage researchers to reflect upon their own experiences.},
  urldate = {2021-04-15},
  booktitle = {Companion {Publication} of the 2020 {ACM} {Designing} {Interactive} {Systems} {Conference}},
  publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
  author = {Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Mouratidis, Marios and Wulf, Volker},
  month = jul,
  year = {2020},
  keywords = {ethnography, ethics, fieldwork, global south, methods, non-western, participation, western},
  pages = {185--190},
  }

2019

• ---

  Rüller, S., Aal, K. & Holdermann, S. (2019)Reflections on a Design Case Study – (Educational) ICT Intervention with Imazighen in Morocco

  Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Communities & Technologies – Transforming Communities. New York, NY, USA, Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery, Pages: 172–177 doi:10.1145/3328320.3328406
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This case study describes the establishment of an educational ICT-intervention, a Computer Club, in the High Atlas, Morocco. We will first give an overview of the general approach and the first intervention. Then, we go into depth of the following trip, 15 months after the opening of the Computer Club. We describe the concerns to address and activities planned in advance based on the knowledge we acquired during the first intervention as well as on the insights we gained during this trip and discuss how much has changed. Reflections of these experiences discuss the importance of involving local partners, mitigating the power dynamics to build a trustful relationship and the impact of the intervention on the valley. We conclude with the most recent developments which involved a visit of the local partners to Germany to create a common understanding of the club approach.

  @inproceedings{ruller_reflections_2019,
  address = {New York, NY, USA},
  series = {C\&{T} '19},
  title = {Reflections on a {Design} {Case} {Study} - ({Educational}) {ICT} {Intervention} with {Imazighen} in {Morocco}},
  isbn = {978-1-4503-7162-9},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3328320.3328406},
  doi = {10.1145/3328320.3328406},
  abstract = {This case study describes the establishment of an educational ICT-intervention, a Computer Club, in the High Atlas, Morocco. We will first give an overview of the general approach and the first intervention. Then, we go into depth of the following trip, 15 months after the opening of the Computer Club. We describe the concerns to address and activities planned in advance based on the knowledge we acquired during the first intervention as well as on the insights we gained during this trip and discuss how much has changed. Reflections of these experiences discuss the importance of involving local partners, mitigating the power dynamics to build a trustful relationship and the impact of the intervention on the valley. We conclude with the most recent developments which involved a visit of the local partners to Germany to create a common understanding of the club approach.},
  urldate = {2021-04-16},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 9th {International} {Conference} on {Communities} \& {Technologies} - {Transforming} {Communities}},
  publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
  author = {Rüller, Sarah and Aal, Konstantin and Holdermann, Simon},
  month = jun,
  year = {2019},
  keywords = {HCI4D, ICT4D, HCI, Computer Club, ICT Intervention, Imazighen, Morocco},
  pages = {172--177},
  }

2018

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  Aal, K., Rüller, S., Holdermann, S., Tolmie, P., Rohde, M., Zillinger, M. & Wulf, V. (2018)Challenges of an Educational ICT Intervention: The Establishment of a MediaSpace in the High Atlas

  IN ECSCW 2003 Dordrecht doi:10.1007/978-94-010-0068-0_1
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This paper describes the challenges which were faced by establishing a MediaSpace in the High Atlas in Morocco. The focus lies on the adaption of the wellestablished computer club approach within a steadily developing and profoundly transforming rural/mountainous region. This paper presents different aspects during the establishment process and contrasts these experiences with two other studies in different contexts, on the one hand inhabitants of refugee camps in Palestine and on the other hand, socially marginalized migrants in Germany. Findings show the importance of understanding the local context, involving local partners and integrating the needs and requirements of the local population to establish a sustainable intervention.

  @incollection{aal_challenges_2018,
  address = {Dordrecht},
  title = {Challenges of an {Educational} {ICT} {Intervention}: {The} {Establishment} of a {MediaSpace} in the {High} {Atlas}},
  isbn = {978-94-010-3994-9 978-94-010-0068-0},
  shorttitle = {Pruning the {Answer} {Garden}},
  url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-94-010-0068-0_1},
  abstract = {This paper describes the challenges which were faced by establishing a MediaSpace in the High Atlas in Morocco. The focus lies on the adaption of the wellestablished computer club approach within a steadily developing and profoundly transforming rural/mountainous region. This paper presents different aspects during the establishment process and contrasts these experiences with two other studies in different contexts, on the one hand inhabitants of refugee camps in Palestine and on the other hand, socially marginalized migrants in Germany. Findings show the importance of understanding the local context, involving local partners and integrating the needs and requirements of the local population to establish a sustainable intervention.},
  language = {en},
  urldate = {2021-04-16},
  booktitle = {{ECSCW} 2003},
  publisher = {Springer Netherlands},
  author = {Aal, Konstantin and Rüller, Sarah and Holdermann, Simon and Tolmie, Peter and Rohde, Markus and Zillinger, Martin and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.1007/978-94-010-0068-0_1},
  pages = {1--20},
  }

2017

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  Stickel, O., Aal, K., Fuchsberger, V., Tscheligi, M., Rüller, S., Wenzelmann, V., Pipek, V. & Wulf, V. (2017)3D printing/digital fabrication for education and the common good Workshop for C&T2017

  Workshop at the 8th international conference on Communities and Technologies. Troyes
  [BibTeX]

  @inproceedings{stickel_3d_2017,
  address = {Troyes},
  title = {{3D} printing/digital fabrication for education and the common good {Workshop} for {C}\&{T2017}},
  booktitle = {Workshop at the 8th international conference on {Communities} and {Technologies}},
  author = {Stickel, Oliver and Aal, Konstantin and Fuchsberger, Verena and Tscheligi, Manfred and Rüller, Sarah and Wenzelmann, Victoria and Pipek, Volkmar and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2017},
  keywords = {CSCW, FabLab, yallah},
  }

• ---

  Weibert, A., Mouratidis, M., Khateb, R., Rüller, S., Hosak, M., Potka, S., Aal, K. & Wulf, V. (2017)Creating Environmental Awareness with Upcycling Making Activities: A Study of Children in Germany and Palestine

  Proceedings of the 2017 Conference on Interaction Design and Children. New York, NY, USA, Publisher: ACM, Pages: 286–291 doi:10.1145/3078072.3079732
  [BibTeX] [Download PDF]

  @inproceedings{weibert_creating_2017,
  address = {New York, NY, USA},
  series = {{IDC} '17},
  title = {Creating {Environmental} {Awareness} with {Upcycling} {Making} {Activities}: {A} {Study} of {Children} in {Germany} and {Palestine}},
  isbn = {978-1-4503-4921-5},
  url = {http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/3078072.3079732},
  doi = {10.1145/3078072.3079732},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2017 {Conference} on {Interaction} {Design} and {Children}},
  publisher = {ACM},
  author = {Weibert, Anne and Mouratidis, Marios and Khateb, Renad and Rüller, Sarah and Hosak, Miriam and Potka, Shpresa and Aal, Konstantin and Wulf, Volker},
  year = {2017},
  keywords = {yallah, children, computer club, learning, environment, intercultural, making, upcycling},
  pages = {286--291},
  }