arXiv subjects

Foroozan Daneshzand

Publications and source records attributed to Foroozan Daneshzand.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Epistemic Tensions: Reframing A Visualization Co-Design through Entanglement Theory

In this work, we present how employing the lens of entanglement helped us examine and reframe epistemic tensions arising in a visualization co-design project. Entanglement theory challenges traditional assumptions in the visualization research community by emphasizing that knowledge is not produced through linear, isolated processes, but is inherently entangled with phenomena and apparatuses. While this perspective offers a compelling critique of conventional research practices, its practical value for visualization research remains underexplored. We apply the entanglement lens to examine and reframe the epistemic tensions that emerged in a longitudinal community-based visualization co-design project. Our experience shows that the entanglement perspective not only provides a richer understanding of these tensions, but also helps transform them into generative opportunities for methodological and theoretical reflection. Applying this lens enabled us to critically interrogate the language used in research, to develop a more nuanced understanding of visualization co-design, and to surface ``dark sides'' of conventional visualization design pipelines. These contributions illustrate the practical value of embracing entanglement as an epistemological lens for visualization research.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Input Visualizations to Track Health Data by Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Older adults living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) can considerably benefit from collecting and reflecting on their health data. Many older adults collect their health data using various approaches, such as digital tools or handwritten notebooks. However, in these approaches, the act of collecting data does not itself yield insights; sensemaking and reflection happen only if individuals later review their accumulated records. The daily process of data collection thus offers limited opportunity for individuals to actively engage with their data or find the process personally meaningful and enjoyable. Personal data input visualizations using physical tokens offer a promising solution that can help individuals recognize evolving patterns while collecting data and discover meaningful insights more serendipitously and engagingly. Yet, there is a limited understanding of whether and how older adults living with MCC might adopt physical input visualizations to collect data and reflect on their health, and how the tangible, expressive, and personalizable nature of this process supports their sensemaking and reflection. In this paper, we present the results of our interview and diary studies in which older adults living with MCC inputted health data using physical tokens over two weeks. Our findings highlight the diverse and unique needs of older adults for tracking personal health data, illustrating how they adapt strategies and personalize physical input visualizations to align with their individual needs. We demonstrate how older adults integrated input visualizations into daily routines and leveraged tangible markers to reflect on patterns and behaviors, while enjoying the process of tracking and focusing on personal expression and meaningful reflection. Finally, we provide design considerations for supporting older adults with MCC when inputting health data through physical tokens.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Challenges in Working Towards Patient Engagement in Developing Technology Prototypes

Creating supportive technologies for people living with multiple chronic conditions is extremely challenging. These patients are often faced with substantial visible and invisible treatment work as well as their everyday responsibilities, including coordinating across providers, tracking information, and repeating communication in emotionally charged contexts. In the Cumulative Complexity Model (CuCoM), the balance between patient workload and patient capacity shapes what patients can realistically take on, including whether a digital tool can be adopted and sustained. In this paper, we report engagement lessons from implementing MyCareCompass, a patient-facing digital health intervention (DHI) intended to support day-to-day self-management for people living with multiple chronic conditions. We define engagement as patient uptake and sustained use during a two-month pilot study of our platform, drawing on usage analytics and follow-up feedback, and distill three implementation lessons for designing for engagement in complex chronic care.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

The Fuzzy Front Ends: Reflections on the Never-Ending Story of Visualization Co-Design

Co-design is an increasingly popular approach in HCI and visualization, yet there is little guidance on how to effectively apply this method in visualization contexts. In this paper, we visually present our experience of a two-and-a-half-year co-design project with the local arts community. Focusing on facilitating community exploration and sense-making around arts funding distribution, the project involved a series of co-design sessions between visualization researchers and members of the arts community. Through these iterative sessions, we built shared understanding and developed visualization prototypes tailored to community needs. However, the practice is far from complete, and we found ourselves continually returning to the "fuzzy front end" of the co-design process. We share this ongoing story through comic-style visuals and reflect on three fuzzy front ends that we encountered during the project. By sharing these experiences with the visualization community, we hope to offer insights that others can draw on in their own community-engaged co-design work.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Metacognitive Demands and Strategies While Using Off-The-Shelf AI Conversational Agents for Health Information

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversational agents become widespread, people are increasingly using them for health information seeking. The use of off-the-shelf conversational agents for health information seeking could place high metacognitive demands (the need for extensive monitoring and control of one's own thought process) on individuals, which could compromise their experience of seeking health information. However, currently, the specific demands that arise while using conversational agents for health information seeking, and the strategies people use to cope with those demands, remain unknown. To address these gaps, we conducted a think-aloud study with 15 participants as they sought health information using our off-the-shelf AI conversational agent. We identified the metacognitive demands such systems impose, the strategies people adopt in response, and propose considerations for designing beyond off-the-shelf interfaces to reduce these demands and support better user experiences and affordances in health information seeking.

cs.HC↗