“The Data Billboard”: A Critical Design Inquiry into Data Awareness in Wearable Self-Tracking Devices

Wearable self-tracking devices have been embedded in our everyday lives as a tool for self-improvement and productivity. While these devices are designed to collect health data, the scope and implications of their data practices, such as data privacy, third-party sharing, and commercial use, have become growing concerns. Users, however, often remain unaware of the extent of their health data collection and interpretation. This study adopts a critical design methodology to inquire how users perceive and engage with these hidden data practices. Through a provocative prototype called "The Data Billboard", data exposure was exaggerated by making personal health metrics visible to the public. During the interaction with the prototype, the participants experienced the discomfort of publicly exposing health data and reflected on their awareness of data. The findings of the study support that the experience with the prototype challenged the initial assumptions and perceptions about data exposure by prompting social, emotional, and reflective responses. The study contributes empirical insights into data awareness and demonstrates how critical design can provoke ethical questions, as well as opens debates around self-tracking data practices.