Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context

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dc.contributor.advisorMarsden, Garyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMaunder, Andrew Jamesen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-13T19:31:26Z
dc.date.available2014-08-13T19:31:26Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract.en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 221-233).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe application of information and communication technologies to development (ICT4Dev) is widely believed to have the potential to improve livelihoods in developing regions. Within the field of HCI, it is recognised that user-centred design (UCD) methodologies need to be applied if ICT4Dev activities are to yield locally appropriate technologies. However, there is no overarching methodology or framework for the application of UCD within 4Dev design initiatives. This thesis sets out to explore which UCD methods best enable designers to work successfully outside their own contexts, what challenges arise and how UCD methodologies can be developed to support ICT4Dev designers. Two field studies were conducted, applying two UCD methodologies: An empathic and a technology probing approach. In each case the author designed an artefact, evaluated it in situ and reflected on the suitability of the design methods, tools and techniques employed. The design environments were the rural Eastern Cape Province and the township of Khayelitsha near Cape Town, both in South Africa. An empathic approach was found to have two major shortcomings: It was unable to overcome significant communication challenges and, partly as a result, it failed to identify major design problems until very late in the process. The major benefit of technology probing was its open-ended nature, which fostered user engagement and participation and yielded valuable design inspiration for future modifications of the probe. However, the emergent scenarios of use in the case of a technology probe were heavily influenced by the nature of the technology itself. We thus conclude that technology probing, while it has a valuable place in the ICT4Dev design toolbox, should be deployed in tandem with other techniques to ensure that important livelihoods problems are not overlooked.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMaunder, A. J. (2010). <i>Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Computer Science. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6416en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMaunder, Andrew James. <i>"Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Computer Science, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6416en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMaunder, A. 2010. Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Maunder, Andrew James AB - The application of information and communication technologies to development (ICT4Dev) is widely believed to have the potential to improve livelihoods in developing regions. Within the field of HCI, it is recognised that user-centred design (UCD) methodologies need to be applied if ICT4Dev activities are to yield locally appropriate technologies. However, there is no overarching methodology or framework for the application of UCD within 4Dev design initiatives. This thesis sets out to explore which UCD methods best enable designers to work successfully outside their own contexts, what challenges arise and how UCD methodologies can be developed to support ICT4Dev designers. Two field studies were conducted, applying two UCD methodologies: An empathic and a technology probing approach. In each case the author designed an artefact, evaluated it in situ and reflected on the suitability of the design methods, tools and techniques employed. The design environments were the rural Eastern Cape Province and the township of Khayelitsha near Cape Town, both in South Africa. An empathic approach was found to have two major shortcomings: It was unable to overcome significant communication challenges and, partly as a result, it failed to identify major design problems until very late in the process. The major benefit of technology probing was its open-ended nature, which fostered user engagement and participation and yielded valuable design inspiration for future modifications of the probe. However, the emergent scenarios of use in the case of a technology probe were heavily influenced by the nature of the technology itself. We thus conclude that technology probing, while it has a valuable place in the ICT4Dev design toolbox, should be deployed in tandem with other techniques to ensure that important livelihoods problems are not overlooked. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context TI - Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6416 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/6416
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMaunder AJ. Assessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world context. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Computer Science, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6416en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Computer Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherComputer Scienceen_ZA
dc.titleAssessing the suitability of user centric design methods when applied in a developing world contexten_ZA
dc.typeDoctoral Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationnamePhDen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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