Beyond the Clock: Rethinking Time in Technologies for People with Dementia

We explore the intricate interplay between humans, time, and technology, highlighting the prevalence of objective temporal perspectives, such as the clock in modern technologies. Our focus narrows on assistive technologies, where the prevailing adherence to seemingly objective clock time sidelines subjective human experiences, which is a critical oversight, especially for vulnerable groups like people with dementia. This case underscores the evident temporal misfit between lived experiences and standardized clock time imposed by technology. Consequently, assistive technologies inadequately address nuanced temporal challenges in daily life. Through dementia-driven scenarios and temporal misfits with assistive technology, we advocate for a more inclusive and intuitive technology approach, urging a reconsideration of the pervasive use of clock time in HCI. We urge the community to embrace multi-temporal lenses that can accommodate a range of temporal perspectives and move beyond the technological imposition of commoditized clock time.