Joint Awareness

Joint awareness is a shared understanding between two or more people about a condition, situation, or state - for example, a child's sensory triggers known to both the child and their parent, or a chronic illness state visible to a patient and their caregiver. It contrasts with self-awareness (knowing one's own state) and others' awareness (a third party observing). In collaborative-care HCI, joint awareness is treated as a prerequisite for effective co-regulation, mutual support, and informed environmental accommodation. Designing for joint awareness typically requires balancing transparency against privacy, autonomy, and the risk of making a supporter feel surveilled or responsible for constant monitoring.