Spirituality · Artistic Research
Technology has become deeply woven into the practices of faith communities who engage in shared prayer, online worship, or meditation. Despite a growing body of research on religious/spiritual practices, the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community has yet to fully investigate Techno-Spirituality, especially through a first-person approach.
We explore the relationship between digital devices and faith-based practices, with a specific focus on individuals of Christian faith. We present results from an eight-month autoethnographic study of private prayer by the first author, also a community member, while incorporating both technological (e.g., a Muse 2 electroencephalogram headband) and non-technological (e.g., religious iconography) media. This study contributes valuable empirical insights for investigating techno-spirituality, thus assisting HCI researchers in comprehending the real-world complexities faced by religious individuals when interacting with technology.
