Slides of the paper presented in "Critical Alternatives 2015" the 5th Decennial Aaarhus Conference, held on August 17 to 21, 2015, in Aarhus, Denmark. Paper abstract: By examining application software as a type of rhetorical artifact, it is possible to highlight its social, ethical and moral implications. In this paper, we explore one possibility for such a lens: application software functioning as a visual enthymeme. To explore the applicability of that concept in HCI, we analyze one web application as a first step. In our analysis, we observe that interaction and usability are two features that support an application in functioning as a visual enthymeme. Also, online sharing could help the user take the role of the arguer. Our analysis allows us to outline the elements of a user-centric persuasive experience and shows promise for further explorations regarding the applicability of rhetoric in HCI.

1. GAZA EVERYWHERE:
EXPLORING THE APPLICABILITY
OF A RHETORICAL LENS IN HCI
Omar Sosa-Tzec - Erik Stolterman - Martin A. Siegel
Indiana University
Aarhus University
August 20, 2015
Aarhus, Denmark

2. What is this paper about?
This paper explores the idea of
software working as a visual
enthymeme (rhetorical
argument) and outlines a basic
agenda about the applicability
of a rhetorical lens in HCI

3. Rhetoric HCI
The applicability of
a rhetorical lens in HCI
?

4. Rhetoric HCI
Enthymeme
?
Speaker delivering arguments
in order to win an audience
Truncated syllogism
(leaving a premise unstated)

5. Rhetoric HCI
Enthymeme
Visual Argumentation
?

6. Rhetoric HCI
Visual Argumentation
Enthymeme
?

7. Rhetoric HCI
Visual Argumentation
Enthymeme
?

8. Why rhetoric?

9. 2000 20042002 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Seduced by the creation,use and power of the visual
One of the author's personal connection with visual rhetoric
2015
Web design-Usability-Gestalt-Corporate identity
Digital image processing
First encounter with rhetoric,semiotics,design
research,and information design
Rhetorical model of interaction design
Encounter with Semiotic Engineering
Design lecturer & freelancer
Return to rhetoric
Rhetorical criticism & HCI
Rhetorical handbook for UI/UX
Software as visual argument

10. The possibility of visual arguments
“Hearts”by United Colors of Benneton (1996)

11. Case Study

12. Source/screenshots from:
http://ahmadnassri.github.io/gaza-everywhere/
Gaza Everywhere

13. Source/screenshots from:
http://ahmadnassri.github.io/gaza-everywhere/
Gaza Everywhere

14. Source/screenshots from:
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/gaza-everywhere-app-highlights-true-scale-of-humanitarian-crisis--lJ7Dz3JgQg
Publication on i100 from The Independent

15. Source/screenshots from:
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/gaza-everywhere-app-highlights-true-scale-of-humanitarian-crisis--lJ7Dz3JgQg
Publication on i100 from The Independent

16. Source/screenshots from:
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/gaza-everywhere-app-highlights-true-scale-of-humanitarian-crisis--lJ7Dz3JgQg
Publication on i100 from The Independent

17. •Gaza Everywhere's intent is not oriented to provide a
territorial truth

18. •Gaza Everywhere's intent is not oriented to provide a
territorial truth
•Each user has a different awareness of the conflict in
the Gaza Strip,which affects the perception of the
application's intent

19. •Gaza Everywhere's intent is not oriented to provide a
territorial truth
•Each user has a different awareness of the conflict in
the Gaza Strip,which affects the perception of the
application's intent
•Not only the interactive map,but the whole user
interface (interactive map,stats,information design,
and Twitter embedded timeline) functions to support
the detected or interpreted claim

20. •Unlike other traditional forms of visual enthymeme,
Gaza Everywhere allows the user to play with the
composition at will

21. •Unlike other traditional forms of visual enthymeme,
Gaza Everywhere allows the user to play with the
composition at will
•Interaction and experiential knowledge help the user
to fill in the unstated premise

22. •Unlike other traditional forms of visual enthymeme,
Gaza Everywhere allows the user to play with the
composition at will
•Interaction and experiential knowledge help the user
to fill in the unstated premise
•The user might revisit the detected or interpreted
claim,which makes the rhetorical/persuasive effect of
Gaza Everywhere evolve with the user

23. Software as
Enthymeme

24. user
user
designer
i
j
k
user
user
UserExperience
Context of Use
appl.software
(visualenthymeme)
Discourse

25. Considering a
rhetorical lens
for HCI

26. Future Directions
•Composition of visual arguments (in HCI)
(dialectical vs.rhetorical,topoi,rhetorical figures)

27. Future Directions
•Composition of visual arguments (in HCI)
(dialectical vs.rhetorical,topoi,rhetorical figures)
•Understanding of the rhetoricity of UX design

28. Future Directions
•Composition of visual arguments (in HCI)
(dialectical vs.rhetorical,topoi,rhetorical figures)
•Understanding of the rhetoricity of UX design
•Pertinence of rhetoric in UX design competence

29. Closing
Remarks

30. •Gaza Everywhere illustrates the possibility of application
software functioning as a visual enthymeme

31. •Gaza Everywhere illustrates the possibility of application
software functioning as a visual enthymeme
•A rhetorical lens could bring awareness of the social,
moral and ethical implications not only about a design
but also the user experience

32. TAK!
Paper available at
http://cs.au.dk/~hko/Aarhus2015ProceedingsVolumeI.pdf
(Page 69)
@omitzec
@estolter
msiegel@indiana.edu
This work is supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Award no. 1115532.
Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire
research team or the NSF.