Implications for Design

Implications for Design
Paul Dourish

In the article Dourish is discussing the balance between theory and practice and how the implications that this has on the design.
Although HCI has been merged out of psychology and IT over the years it has created its on identity, conventions and conduct to describe the research that is undertaken within this field.
Historical Context
• Ethnographic studies originated in the area of anthropology
• Dourish states that “ethnography advocates long-term, immersive field work combining observation with participation.”
• Two trends of ethnographic studies
o Computer-supported Cooperative Work as the area of inquiry
 Emphasis on the social organisation of the activity
o Participatory Design (PD)
 “For PD, ethnography may have been an expedient tool rather than an intellectually motivated approach.”

Marginalisation of Theory
• Ethnography is often used as term to mean an investigation that is open ended or qualitative
• Generally can answer questions about how technology is used in the field
• Dourish suggests that by viewing ethnography as a method it supports implication for design. As it will generate a different understanding then if you to do the test in a laboratory
• Anderson’s exploration of the relationship between ethnography and requirements
o 3 considerations
 1st – form of reporting
 2nd – particular rhetorical strategies
• Reveals conceptual organisation of cultural settings
 3rd – reflective character of ethnographic analysis
The study not only reflects the culture being study but also the culture in which it is being written for

Power Relations
• As the aim of ethnographic study is to have implications for the design
• This therefore suggests that there is a ‘end-point’ for the research
• UCD and HCI are the domains of the study
• The main information gained from ethnographic studies is what not to build.

Technology and Practice
• Ackerman suggests that there is a “social –technical gap” which is suggesting that ethnographic studies look at where the technology is not in practice.