UX Meets Spirituality

This book presents a well-researched theory that connects transcendent experience (TX) and user experience (UX). It also offers practical techniques for using the theory in designing technology to support TX. TX research focuses on the experiences and their implications without considering how technology might assist them. UX research, on the other hand, studies "techno-spiritual practices", largely overlooking the transcendent experiences that such practices can initiate. However, both fields could pay more attention to the growing interest in the connections between artificial intelligence (AI) and religion. The author’s theory of transcendent user experience (TUX) combines insights from TX literature with interview-based research on tech and TXs. It reveals TUX as a cycle of phases, detailing their components and technology’s role. This theory leads to new design techniques. The playful "Transcendhance" game introduced here, will generate creative ideas for TUX tech; new forms of design fiction aid in exploring how ideas might enhance TUX and change lives. The book also reveals which TUX aspects are easy to design for and which are nearly impossible. The book argues that designing for TUX cannot use straightforward UX methods; it requires an oblique approach. The game and design fictions provide just this. The book concludes with advice on testing product support for transcendence and applying the techniques to broader UX. Ultimately, the framework and techniques provide vital tools for understanding transcendent user experiences and designing technology to support them