Analysis of Interaction Anticipation and Volitive Aspects in Digital Posthumous Communication Systems

Posthumous communication systems are those that allow users to create messages that will only be sent to the intended receivers after their deaths. In these systems users have to express their wishes through configuration settings which will only take effect in the future, when the user is no longer available. In this paper, we propose a methodology that allows us to analyze posthumous communication systems and focus on users' decisions and how users can understand their future impact at the moment when they are making such decisions. To do so, we have combined the Semiotic Inspection Method (SIM) with the Configuration for Interaction Anticipation Challenges and recommendations to take into consideration volitive aspects in digital legacy systems and applied to two posthumous communication systems -- If I Die and Se Eu Morrer Primeiro. The result of our analysis is a thorough account of the decisions designers have made available to users, as well as how they convey what the impact of these decisions will be when they come into effect. This discussion of the systems and the challenges identified contributes to the research and development of digital legacy systems in general. The methodology described is a relevant contribution to the research in digital legacy, and also supports the consolidation of the challenges and recommendations used in the analysis.