Probing User Perceptions on Machine Learning

Abstract: Machine Learning is a technology that has risen in popularity in the last decade. Designers face difficulties in working with Machine Learning as a design material. In order to help designers to cope with this material, many different approaches have been suggested, from books to insights of experienced designers with Machine Learning. In this research, the focus is on the users’ perceptions on Machine Learning and how these could contribute to better design. For this purpose, 10 participants deployed probes to investigate the term Machine Learning. Probes consisted of simple tasks that provoked participants to recognize Machine Learning elements in applications they already use and were deployed with the use of their smart phones. Participants formed personalized perceptions on Machine Learning which varied from creativity in Machine Learning to preoccupations about data use. Based on these findings, suggestions to designers were proposed. Moreover, a secondary research question that emerged was the difficulties the researcher faced while working with probing on Machine Learning user experiences for the specific research.