Early user involvement in designing intelligent products and environments
conference paper
A literature review was conducted on user involvement in design. The focus of the review was on how researchers and designers attempt to cooperate with end-users, with the goal of making a better match with end-users’ needs and preferences. The main goal of the research was to get insight in which method or which practice would be most appropriate for what kind of project. We identified six movements: participatory design, ethnographic fieldwork, lead-user approach, contextual design, co-designing, and empathic design. These movements differ on two major topics. Firstly, the focus on whose knowledge is leading (knowledge of researchers/designers or knowledge of end-users), and secondly which knowledge is privileged (knowledge about the present situation or about the future). A special focus is on the design of intelligent or smart work equipment; ambient intelligence in the working environment, as these are the products of tomorrow. Ambient intelligence involve integrating tiny microelectronic processors and sensors into every day objects in order to make them “smart”. Smart products can explore their environment, communicate with other smart products, and interact with humans. How should potential end-users of these kinds of products be involved in the design process? A case study on the development of a smart office chair for call centre work illustrates a possible way of user involvement.
TNO Identifier
523582
Source title
NES 2008 Ergonomics is a lifestyle, Reykjavik, Iceland 11-13 August
Editor(s)
Halgadottir, B.
Pages
98
Files
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