Qude: Exploring Tactile Code in Long-Distance Relationships

Long-distance relationships (LDRs) have long been of interest in HCI research, and several strategies and designs for mediating intimacy have been proposed. This work-in-progress aims to explore and identify existing practices in experiencing intimacy in technology-mediated LDRs, to design artefacts that could mediate some of the related struggles, and to explore the prototypes with users. Based on the insights from seven in-depth semi-structured interviews and a creative task, we developed the concept of Qude, which entails two prototypes: A vibro-Tactile wearable that enables a person to tap and send a rhythm to their partner; and a supporting app, through which users can assign meanings to the rhythms, thus creating an exclusive, tactile code. The paper concludes by reflecting on preliminary findings from four user explorations and the contextual analysis. We provide considerations for further iterations of Qude, as well as a discussion of possibilities for future designs.