Interactive technology contributes to success of voluntary communities

The food collected and distributed by food communities is no longer profitable but still nutritionally useful. But in order for it not to become food waste, technical solutions are required that ensure that the food reaches consumers quickly. Photo: Katie Berns

“However, the technology is not a solution in itself, but rather functions as a way to connect and support different actors to find solutions together“, says Katie Berns, researcher in computer and systems science at Stockholm University.

Food waste communities

Her field of research is in an area called human-computer interaction, which studies the relationship between humans and technology. The research looks at, among other things, how digital technology affects human behavior and our societies. The thesis contributes new knowledge about the so-called socio-technical methods are used to run communities that work to reduce food waste. As the founder of a local food distribution network in Stockholm, she is both active as a volunteer in the field and a researcher. A fact that has given her great insight into how the communities work, but which has also required  her to be extra careful with the balance between participation and research.

“It is always a challenge to be objective in different contexts. In order to separate my two roles, I have kept a journal every week and then gone back to determine: Was this scientific? I have tried to be as transparent as possible in my conclusions.“

Speed is one important aspect

The focus of the food sharing communities is to rescue food that is still edible from distributors, for example supermarkets, and to work for less food waste in households. Above all, this happens by the communities creating regular and established meeting places for three different actors: the distributors who have goods that otherwise risk being thrown away, the volunteers who want to save food and the individuals who want to gain access to it. To reach each other at short notice, the communities use a combination of interactive digital technologies, such as social media, non-digital tools such as numbered tickets, and social methods such as collaboration to organize and run the food event.

“This is where digital technology becomes important for it to work practically for all parties, even though it does not follow the usual market logic, that is, someone has an interest in selling something and another in buying.“

Digital community economy

The thesis contributes key issues to consider for those who want to create socio-technical solutions for volunteer-based communities. Because according to Katie Berns, the example of food waste is just one example of a situation where new solutions are needed. There are more situations where market logic may not work as a solution, for example during the corona pandemic when vaccines were to be distributed. Often it is about finding queuing systems that not only prioritize efficiency, but also take into account more diverse values such as cooperation, justice, care for others and care for the environment. Here she introduces a new concept, so-called digital community economies.

“During the corona pandemic, it was important to create system of queuing where the most vulnerable people got access to vaccines as quickly as possible. At the same time, it was important that others could access to leftover vaccines to prevent waste.“

Technology is only part of the solution

The problem is that it is rarely possible to solve societal challenges technically without taking into account other factors.

“If, via an algorithm, I get a digital queue number for a food event, come up to a counter and get a box of salad without being able to choose something myself, it will only lead to new waste. Because I don't eat salad, I would lokely throw it in the garbage when I get home.“

Instead of leaving everything to technological solutions, it is therefore important, according to Katie Berns, to create a larger technological infrastructure that helps people reach each other, but which does not undermine the social interactions or local communities that already exist.

Why is it important to do research in the field of human-computer interaction?

“Because it's not just about designing new technology, but about how it affects us as individuals and, by extension, society. Many technological possibilities, for example AI in decision-making, pose great challenges for our societies. The important thing is often not how we can find technological solutions out of all our problems, but how we can find technology that helps us humans find the way forward ourselves. Technology is an infrastructure, not the solution.“

Mer om forskningen

”Designing Community Economies: Exploring Alternatives for Infrastructuring Food Waste Activism”

Read more about Katie Bern's research

Read more about Human–Computer Interaction (HCI)