Technology and Intimacy: Choice or coercion?
From distant mainframes to personal computers to handhelds to wearable tech and implanted devices, contemporary technology seems on an unstoppable trajectory to get nearer and nearer to us, our bodies, and the most intimate details of our lives. This conference series has marked every stage of this journey from 1974 until today. Manchester, home of the computer and now European City of Science in 2016, welcomes HCC12 with the aim of scrutinising the journey from impersonal monolithic technology towards the intimate intertwining of devices and the self. What is the impact of this journey and where are we going next?

Intimate technologies are now manifest in so many ways in the workplace, domestic environment and through entertainment opportunities. The conference seeks to bring together an inclusive and representative sample of these many constantly evolving intimate relationships that have existed previously and continue to exist between humans and technology.
Cross-disciplinary papers concerning ethics, health and wellbeing, or the security and privacy issues associated with any or all of the topics below are very welcome.

The conference welcomes inputs from members of academia and research, civic society, computing associations, industry, and the IT professions on the following themes:

Intimacy – Location – Personal/Social – Wearables – Implantables – Data Manipulation
Personalisation – Identity – Digital Footprint – Gender
Marketing – User Experience – Human Computer Interaction & Design – Search and Social Media
Customisation – Material Culture – Innovation – Kit – Microchipping
Generations – Histories – Enabling Technologies
Geographies – Urban Technologies – Wayfaring
ICT for Development – Global Mobility – Developing Economies – Sustainability.