1. Probe and proxies : unravelingmeaningful technology
experiences An Jacobs Wendy Van den Broeck Bram Lievens Lizzy
Bleumers4th TQR conference 2013 , Fort Lauderdale
2. Our focus on the use of technologyas applied social
scientists in technology development Source: The Process of Design
Squiggle, Damien Newman
3. Why applied social sciences within technology
development?Problem Current design pitfalls: Technology push
4. A solution: Human centered design approach Combining
consumer research & product development (social & technical
aspects) characteristics: 1. Understanding requirements by user
involvement 2. Balanced distribution between human and technology
of functions 3. Iteration of evaluation and design 4.
Multidisciplinary
5. Human Emphasis on is on a current situation or on a problem
centered design moves Participatory design Ethnographic fieldwork
Emphasis on Emphasis on end-users researchers and knowledge Lead
User Contextual designers Lead User Approach Contextual design and
on their Approach design knowledge and on move towards their move
towards research and end users design activities Co- Empathic
designing designSource: Steen etal 2007 Emphasis on ought on future
situation or on an opportunity
6. Users as innovatorsGoal: beyond buying behavior
(adoption)Appropriation/habitualization (domestication) Beyond
people as end-users consumers Creativity does not stop when product
is on market, innovative use User does not simply adapt to
product/technology Mutual shaping Unanticipated use ( inappropriate
use) Contextualized, situated use DOMESTICATION PERSPECTIVE Detect
cultural and structural change in everyday practices, meaning and
conflicts in use
7. BUT Innovation paradox : user insights can not be based on
experience with final product that is not developed yet Their
cognitive map is functionally fixated in the present The future is
unpredictable Reflection of several stakeholders in making choices
Is helping to co-create this future Solution ? doing research with
probes
9. Probing methods in human computer interaction: Origin and
history: 1990sCULTURAL PROBESGavers et al. 1997 Titel van de
presentatie 19/01/2013
10. Technological probing Used by different disciplines
different Hutchinson et al (2003) Social science goal: data
collection concerning technology use and the users Design goal:
inspiration among users & designers on new technologies
Engineering goal: technology tests in the users natural
setting
11. Example Transecare: (2009-2010)indepenefor care
dependentstory board pictures to probe Piloting 2 X 3 set ups 5
monts 2009 4 months 2010 Detecting user and technical issues and
redesign
12. Proxy technologies + mock ups
13. Solutions doing research with probes:Our approach: Low
Fidelity : Pen & paper, pictures, scenarios, mock ups High
Fidelity: Technological solution made for the social research =
Technological probe Prototyping/demo of new technology: often
bounded to lab or still instable (New) technological solution on
market Proxy Technology Assessment (PTA) (Pierson et al, 2006;
Bleumers et al. 2010)
14. Type of R&D phase Time of Experience probe with probes
Idea/concept Concept Concept Short Long development elaboration
evaluation 1 moment 4 weeksNon techprobes Techprobes POC/prototype
Off the shelf tech
15. Proxy technology assessment vsTechnology assessment
Technology assessment = forecasting possible routes for different
stakeholders future development of technology will or can have
Proxy technology assessment =analytical process, on micro level to
co-construct plausible everyday practices with future
technologies1) Substitute 2) indirect connection
16. Compare technological probes/proxiesTechnological probes
Technological proxiesHutchinson et al (2003)Not necessary
Resemblance to Some characteristics envisioned similar
technologyCollect information about Logging Collaboration withtheir
own use. producer, else diary methodOpen-ended, give users
Flexibility Less open ended,freedom how they Innovative use
alwaysappropriate it. Possible Analysis/reflection triggering from
usersSimple & technical sound Deploy in real world Be fully
functional toCould have deliberate setting prevent fall out due
tochosen usability issues usability issues.
17. Characteristics of PTA Starting not from person, place or
product but a practice Then decide: which stuff ? situation? by
who? Using state of art technology having characteristics and
functions under study Study Innovation in everyday practices In
conceptual phase of technological/product development
18. Example MADUF(Maximising DVBH usage in Flanders), 2006-2007
TV watching = ! domesticated everyday life practice = Stabilized,
taken for granted social bonding ontological security domestic
evening new portable devices potential being on the move Mobile TV
technology (e.g. DVB-H) = developed idea generation phase = concept
phase for application layer 19
19. Selecting suitable proxy technology central proxy
technology = UMTS phone with Vodafone Live (third generation mobile
technology, 3G) 20
20. Recruiting , mapping and roll out Week 1: task list and
questionnaire Week 2: no data collection by user Week 3 diaries and
cultural probes Week 4: no data collection by user Week 5: depth
interviews
21. Monitoring usage Elicit everyday life user
experiences/practices to forecast everyday practices with future
technologies Integrated in a multi method social research plan Desk
research, observations Questionnaires, logging, diaries, cultural
probes, visual clues, in-depth interviews 22
22. How to do a PTA in practice? 1. Scoping 1. Which
practice(s)? Which concept? 2. Which user group 3. which
setting(s)? 4. List adequate proxy technologies 2.
Selecting/sampling 1. suitable proxy technology 2. Selecting
recruiting and profiling participants 3. Starting up proxy period
1. Mapping user setting 2. Distribution of proxy technology 4.
Proxy period 1. Monitoring use 2. Eliciting reflection right after
proxy period 5. Analysing data (in // with 4) 6. Reporting
results
23. Technological objects as stimulus Not new Taste testing,
lab testing In behavioral testing/experiment tradition Creativity
design tools To generate new ideas Here in PTA: 1) in combination
with other interpretative techniques 2) offering new reference
point for systematic reflection 3) And collect data on use and
experience of use, design implications are secondary
24. Time for some more examples ?
25. Example HI-Masquerade (Human Interface
MulticameraAcquisition for story telling and qualitative enhance
reality in ambient3D environment ) (2008-2010) The concept? Project
goal: Real-time, authentic, immersive remote family interaction in
virtual worlds Question? Investigate potential value of virtual
worlds for family interaction Establish requirements
26. Method: profiles of respondents Participants Focus on
interaction between young children and grandparents Child between 8
and 12 y old One of grandparents One of parents Focus on
appropriation among those that have the basic skills and means to
use a virtual world application Access to the Internet Basis
Internet skills Long term, in-depth qualititative study 3 families
participated Media rich households Mediated contact relatively
traditional
27. Probing by storyboards Storyboards Visualizations of use
scenarios To elicit attitudes and opinions First storyboard theme
Sharing and reliving past experiences together Second storyboard
theme Creative and cooperative play
28. Proxy Technology Chobots Web-based virtual world targeted
at families Avatars (customization) Individual and multi- play
Communication tools 4 weeks use (logbook) + interview
29. Example IM3 project Interactive Mobile Medical Monitoring
(2007 jun-sept) (Interactive Mobile Medical 12 people with chronic
heart failure Offline diary and auto-collection of pictures Intake
and follow up interview 4 weeks total, 2 weeks diary Open ended
& closed questions 30
30. PTA Faking the real thing? Fake? Proxies are not the real,
final products Real? Proxies provoke real reactions and information
about possible everyday use of final product.