Abstract

Virtual Reality has evolved as a powerful, embedded and immersive technology medium to transform dating experiences. However, there is no rigorous CSCW research examining ‘dating’ in VR, despite social interaction being a serious topic of exploration. We aim to push the CSCW discourse on social interaction further by analyzing the dynamics of romantic reciprocality in a fully immersive VR application. Through a qualitative study of 30 participants in 15 pairs, we examine a customizable VR application ‘RecRoom’ as a dating technology medium to analyze how dimensions of interaction - including but not limited to voice, haptics and spatiality - influence dynamics of dating experiences. We employ Tinder as a contrasting chat based medium to situate and deepen our learnings about dating in VR. Our study finds VR allowing users to efficiently and effectively ‘gauge’ matches resulting in well informed decisions to meet (or not) virtual partners ’IRL’ or in real life than existing chat based mediums like Tinder. We believe this leads to improved experience of first dates.

Abstract

The attempt to enroll citizens under the umbrella of effective governance is being accomplished by bringing digitization to the pedestal of identity. The paper unfolds the story of India’s biometric based digital identity programme, Aadhaar, in fulfilling its goals of facilitating national security, financial inclusion and entitlement delivery. Using the socio-technical framework of ‘Good ID’, a user-centric approach to digital identity, we critique the intricacies of the design of Aadhaar as a bridge between citizen beneficiaries and the government and propose suggestions to forward the case of Aadhaar as ‘good’ digital ID.

Abstract

The attempt to enroll citizens under the umbrella of effective governance is being accomplished by bringing digitization to the pedestal of identity. The paper unfolds the story of India’s biometric based digital identity programme,Aadhaar, in fulfilling its goals of facilitating national security, financial inclusion and entitlement delivery. Using thesocio-technical framework of ‘Good ID’,a user-centric approach todigital identity, we critique the intricacies of the design of Aadhaar as a bridge between citizen beneficiaries and the government and propose suggestions to forward the case of Aadhaar as ‘good’ digital ID.

Abstract

Lately, Indian online platforms have witnessed recurring consumer boycott calls in forms of uninstalling/down-voting applications on the app stores. For our exploratory study, we conduct a longitudinal analysis of one of these controversies involving online boycotting of an e-commerce company (Snapdeal) over a controversial statement issued by their brand ambassador (Aamir Khan) which hurt religious and nationalist sentiments of users on Twitter. Through the lens of this study, we try to understand emergent collective user behaviour and how collective action has begun to play out in online (troll) communities. We call the user behaviour in our study as trolling behaviour as - the call to boycott appears in order to silence an influential voice which challenges a nationalist narrative of these users. A broader implication of such behaviour seems to be strong arming any counter narrative with a threat of potential backlash and financial harm. This analysis is important as online deviant and trolling behaviour by group of users is increasingly influencing socio-political agendas online. It contributes to broader CSCW understanding of online platforms and collective behaviour. We also situate our work in online consumer boycotting behaviour.

Abstract

Narratives of the gig economy are largely perspectives from the global North and the nature of their ride-hailing market. Freelancing or gigging offer contrasting connotations depending on the market and the labour it is situated in. India, with its demographic dividend and employment challenges, view opportunities arising out of the gig- economy differently. To investigate the impact of ride-hailing apps in the Indian market, and the challenges and opportunities it has brought in, we offer learnings from an ethnographic study of Uber drivers in India.

Abstract

Narratives of the gig economy are largely perspectives from the global North and the nature of their ride-hailing market. Freelancing or gigging offer contrasting connotations depending on the market and the labour it is situated in. India, with its demographic dividend and employment challenges, view opportunities arising out of the gig- economy differently. To investigate the impact of ride-hailing apps in the Indian market, and the challenges and opportunities it has brought in, we offer learnings from an ethnographic study of Uber drivers in India.

Abstract

This note offers a perspective on the informal markets as an assortment of human players and networks contributing to a socio‐business culture of economic survival. The note also offers a few thoughts on specific segments of the informal workforce in India based on ethnographic evidence and a sociological assessment. The author begins with an appraisal of the socio‐economic phenomenon of informality including an anthropological framing of the “informal.” An important focus is the IT‐based businesses and the variety of players ranging from middle‐range businesses to floating or freelancing actors. The note ends with a spotlight on the internet fuelled gig economy where ICTs move beyond being a product or a service and take over as the business platform ushering a new era of informal or gig economy.

Abstract

Financial transactions are intimately bound with social interactions and woven into everyday economic lives. In this paper we focus on PayTM, a digital wallet, and a specific set of users of PayTM, street vendors in urban India. Through an ethnographic investigation we offer to unpack two questions: 1. Can digital forms of money create financial inclusion by opening up access to the marginalized 2. Can digital platforms amplify socio-economic capacities of low literate users enhancing financial literacy? We argue that digital and financial literacy are an immersive component of digital wallet use acquiring ‘everyday life’ in specific socio-economic ecosystems. Our study captures daily practices of digital money staking a claim in advancing the understanding of financial inclusion as a lived process accumulating habits, practices and stakes to expand socio-economic capabilities.

Abstract

Narratives of the gig economy are largely perspectives from the global North and the nature of their ride-hailing market. Freelancing or gigging offer contrasting connotations depending on the market and the labour it is situated in. India, with its demographic dividend and employment challenges, view opportunities arising out of the gig-economy differently. To investigate the impact of ride-hailing apps in the Indian market, and the challenges and opportunities it has brought in, we offer learnings from an ethnographic study of Uber drivers in Indi

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for enhancing shopping experience in physical stores. The method includes receiving at least one persona associated with a user based on one or more of: ethnographic data obtained from a user, demographic data associated with the user, buying behavioral data associated with the user, and social networking data associated with the user. After this, one or more historical activities of the user inside one or more physical stores are received. Also, one or more constraints associated with the user are received. Once received, the at least one persona, the one or more constraints, and the one or more historical activities are analyzed to generate a pre-defined number of personalized recommendations. Finally, the personalized recommendations are displayed to the user within a window of a user interface.