Designing with care Adapting cultural probes to inform design in sensitive settings.pdf

Designing with Care: Adapting Cultural Probes to Inform Design in Sensitive Settings Andy Crabtree, Terry Hemmings and Tom Rodden The School of Computer Science IT, The University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, United Kingdom. andy.crabtree@nottingham.ac.uk Keith Cheverst, Karen Clarke, Guy Dewsbury, John Hughes and Mark Rouncefield Department of Computing, SECAMS Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YR, United Kingdom. m.rouncefield@lancaster.ac.uk Abstract We report on the methodological process of developing computer support for former psychiatric patients living in residential care settings, for older members of the community, and disabled people living at home. Methods for identifying user needs in such sensitive settings are underdeveloped and the situation presents a very complex set of design challenges. In particular, the highly personal character of such settings presents conventional observational techniques, such as ethnography, with obdurate problems that make direct observation intrusive, disruptive and inappropriate on occasion. Direct observation requires supplementation in sensitive settings. Accordingly, we report on our experiences of adapting Cultural Probes to explore care settings, to develop a design dialogue with participants, and to gather information about their unique needs. 1. A New Challenge Visions of what technology can do… are rarely based on any comprehensive understanding of needs. (Tweed Quigley 2000) This paper reports on the adaptation of Cultural Probes (Gaver et al. 1999a) to facilitate research in the long- term and ongoing interdisciplinary research project, Digital Care. The project is concerned to develop ‘enabling’ or ‘assistive’ technologies for user groups with different support needs in a variety of residential care settings. Assistive and smart home technology has been shown to enable differently-abled people to lead a