Introduction to the Special Issue of "The Turn to The Wild"

An introduction to the special issue of 'The Turn to The Wild' is provided. The introduction reveals that the phrase 'in-the-wild' is becoming popular again in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), describing approaches to HCI research and accounts of user experience phenomena that differ from those derived from other lab-based methods. Researchers are shifting into the wild, carrying out in-situ development and engagement, sampling experiences and probing people in their homes and on the streets. The aim of this special issue is to examine what this new direction entails and what it means for HCI theory, practice, and design. Researchers are evaluating prototypes in the context of how they are used and integrated within people's lives. This involves observing and recording what people do and how this changes over suitable periods of time.