derek
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Posts by derek
Journal Club 21.1.2011 – User-Centred Design and Sherlock Holmes
Jan 27th
With many of our research projects employing HCI research methods, we had a light discussion on one of HCI’s core concepts: user-centred design. To stimulate discussion we took a look at the interesting paper, ‘Pastiche scenarios: Fiction as a resource for user centred design’ by Blythe & Wright (2006), available from here.
The paper looks at an alternative method to build an understanding of target users of systems in the tasks they do and the scenarios that bring about the need for these tasks. The proposed method is the creative use of well-known fictional characters, such as Sherlock Holmes or Bridget Jones, in creating personas and scenarios over the standard ‘static’ methods of rolling out some basic statistics such as demographics and job title. This approach can make the process of UCD a lot more fun and lead to an enriched understanding of the users needs, desires and cultural issues. In particular, their use could be helpful for the types of studies we do here at LiSC that involve real people in real environments instead of tightly controlled lab studies.
Examples of our projects that could benefit from the use of pistache scenarios are ENACT and Electro-Magnates, both of which will involve a diverse range of pariticpants touching upon sensitive aspects of their well-being and lifestyles.
A new cake made its debut appearance, the Sticky Toffee with butterscotch cream, it sure gave the Carrot and Walnut cake a run for its money.
NordiCHI 2010 – Reykjavik, October 16 – 20
Aug 30th
LiSC will be presenting a paper at the main track of the NordiCHI 2010 conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. Despite being held to ransom by Iceland’s volcano at CHI 2010 we are confident the volcano will behave itself while we are there.
The paper is titled “Wattsup?: Motivating reductions in domestic energy consumption using social networks”. The paper is based on the findings of a pilot study using home smart meters to assist in reducing energy consumption and will be presented by myself, Derek Foster.
Sé þig þar!
Journal Club 30th April – HCI for sustainability
May 3rd
This Friday’s meeting followed on from the heated debate at the sustainable HCI sessions and papers at CHI 2010. The two main papers we discussed were based on the future of sustainable HCI available here and the design of eco-feedback technology available here. During our discussion of sustainable HCI and energy consumption the general sentiment was that sustainable HCI largely ignores the literature of environmental psychology with its decades of underpinning knowledge in researching pro-environmental behaviour. Conversely, the environmental psychology literature completely ignores the body of sustainable HCI research which in itself raises questions of how valid other relevant disciplines perceive HCI. We felt that a collaboration of tried and tested HCI design methodologies and environmental psychology could provide more robust experimental studies. This could potentially lead towards a definitive research answer in the effectiveness of using technology to encourage positive eco-behaviour.
Several other poignant questions were raised, for instance does HCI create new technologies simply because we like new designs or ‘objects’ to covet – therefore negating the whole concept of sustainable HCI? Also, how can we begin to change deep seated consumer attitudes in the craving for and consumption of new technologies? Could it be said that we as consumers ‘want to want’ new devices and turn a blind eye to the ‘from shelf to landfill’ cycle in a short space of time? Sustainable HCI has made inroads researching the material design of technologies, see here, and how we may be able to address the perceived value of technologial devices through re-use and heirloom status concepts. It could be argued that this research is more of a visionary idea in tackling obsolescence and not practical in its application.
We felt that sustainable HCI may also be seen as an island of research with findings only having a short life cycle with no inter-disciplinary re-use. The discussion suggested that collaboration between the ergonomics, engineering, sociology and psychology disciplines could benefit the ‘sustainability’ of sustainable HCI.
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