People research plan

Research questions:
They will be aimed to understand both how electronics are build up and how they work as well as the way in which people tend to relate to them.

Experts:
Computer Scientist, E. A.;
Micro-electronic engineer, L. M.;
Computer recycler, E. A.;
People

People I design for, how to involve them:
At this stage, I am interested to understand the way in which people relate to electronic devices. Further, I will ask them to test my prototypes expressing their opinions about and asking them suggestions.

Research methods and motivations:
- Purposes: Understanding of
1) existing production, approaches and studies;
2) relationship that people hold with DCIDs .
- Methods:
Purpose 1) books, magazines and web-sites;
Purpose 2) interviews/questionnaire and testing prototyping.

Planning:
Throughout the rest of the first trimester I will get as much knowledge as I can about the topic I am addressing in order to develop my conceptual guideline.
During the second trimester I will prototyping and testing prototypes at first, in order to put into shape the conceptual guideline I have been developing during the first trimester. If necessary, I will contact external experts in order to let me help out in the prototyping process.

Abstract

Nowadays, many different digital communication and information devices (DCIDs) exist, even though many have the same components and functions. They allow us to interact with each other and to entertain ourselves, thus we recognize them as necessary.

The consequences of this state of the art tend to affect users’ dependency and devices’ obsolescence on a physical, emotional and contextual layer. Indeed, DCIDs answer to functional, perceptive and economical expectations; however, they are not designed in order to have a long life because they are closed systems. Thus, average users keep for granted their obsolescence and they tend to look forward the next new model. This is because, during the whole life cycle of the device, the perception that people build up with and around DCIDs depends on users’ abilities and on the context where they use them. In most cases, only professionals of the field can appropriate them, but average users cannot.

There is a design opportunity in "designing for disassembling" in order to make functions perceptible and to provide an open system. In this way, DCID development will be integrated in units that adapt to the needs of people all the time, lowering the gap between technology, people/users and environment.

Midterms submission uploaded

Abstract:
Nowadays, digital communication and information devices (DCIDs) are several and different, even if they have same components and functions. They allow us to interact with each other and to entertain ourselves, thus we recognize them as necessary.

According to that, the consequences of this state of the art tend to affect users’ dependency and devices’ obsolescence on several layers:
- physical: DCIDs answer to both functional and perceptive expectations, as they have to be easy to use, convenient and have a good look. However, they are not designed in order to be recycled and they are closed systems.
- contextual: users perceive DCIDs according to their abilities and to the context, during the whole life cycle of the device. Therefore, only professionals of the field can deal with them, but average users.
- emotional: users tend to invest them with value according to the relationship that they have build up with and around them. However, as DCIDs are easy to change because they are affordable, users keep for granted their obsolescence and they tend to look forward the last new model.

Design opportunity is in the "design for disassembling" in order to make functions perceptible and to provide an open system.

Midterms submission

Research question:

How can the obsolescence of electronic devices become an opportuniny for design?

Abstract:
In the era of communication, electronic devices are the tools which allow us not only to interact with each other, but also to experience leisure times. Because of that we recognize them a special role in our lives, if not a very need.

According to that, the consequences of this state of the art tend to evolve on several layers, within a physical, a contextual and an emotional involvement. This deeply affects our dependency and the obsolescence of the object themselves, rising the complexity of the whole system: several components, repetition of the components thus of the functions in different electronics, fast dumping and not much recycling.

Indeed, we tend to invest them with value according to the relationship we have build up with and around them. Therefore, the way in which we perceive electronic devices changes according to the abilities of the user in the whole life cycle of the device. This process emphasizes the state of art it self as those popular devices are not known deeply by most of the users, who often tend to be stressed out by using them as well as to relate to them as mere status symbol, feeding consumerism and dumping places.

Bibliography:
Papanek, V., 1995, The green imperative, Thames & Hudston Inc., New York

McLuhan, M., and Fiore, Q., The medium is the massage, Jerome Agel

Greenpeace, Eliminate toxic chemicals, [online], http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics, [Accessed 18 October 2008]

Greenpeace, Hi-tech: highly toxic, [online], http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics , [Accessed 18 October 2008]

Greenpeace, The e-waste problem, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-e-waste-problem , [Accessed 18 October 2008]

Greenpeace, Where does e-waste end up?, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/where-does-e-waste-end-up , [Accessed 18 October 2008]
Greenpeace, How the companies line up?, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up , [Accessed 18 October 2008]

Greenpeace, Solutions, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/solutions , [Accessed 18 October 2008]

Greenpeace, Recycling of electronics waste in China and India: workplace and environmental contamination, [online],
http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/recyclingelectronicwasteindiachinafull.pdf , [Accessed 18 October 2008]

People research plan:
Research questions:
They will be aimed to understand both how electronics are build up and how they work as well as the way in which people tend to relate to them.

Experts:
Computer Scientist, E. A.;
Micro-electronic engineer, Luigi Montotti;
Electronic engineer
Telecommunication engineer
Technology and Health expert
Computer recycler, E. A.
Customer Assistant
Dumping company
Workers in a Dumping place
People

People I design for, how to involve them:
At this stage, I am interested to understand the way in which they relate to electronic devices. Further, I will ask them to test my prototypes expressing their opinions about and asking them suggestions.

Research methods and motivations:
My research approach would be different according to the purposes:
- books, magazines and web-sites: in order to understand the approaches and the problems which have been already addressed and maybe sorted out;
- interviews and/or questionaire: in order to understand the way in which users and experts deal with electronics devices;
- prototyping: in order to develop a work in progress tangible feedback and understand more quickly what I am designing.
A multifaceted approach is necessary in order to understand deeply the complexity I am dealing with.

Planning:
Throughout the rest of the first trimester I will read, interviewing, prototyping and testing prototypes.
During the first half term of the second trimester I will prototyping and testing prototypes at first, and if necessary carrying on interviewing and reading.

sharing ideas: topic 03

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/recyclingelectronicwasteindiachinafull.pdfsharing ideas: topic 03

NEWS!

Dear reader,

I am glad to let you know that I have decided the topic I will approach as graduation project. This is the topic 03. If you are interested to read what it is about, please scroll the page, it's placed at the bottom.

Thanks, Elena

topic 01

How can blind and sighted people share more?

Visual communication is more and more involved in everyday life. However, blind people don’t take part to it. I wonder how could I avoid or low this uncomfortable difference in order to simplify their life or share more as the surrounding world is shaped for sighted extrovert people.