User innovativeness in Living Lab-practices

Description of research

In order to better understand the relationship between users and technological artefacts so as to enhance ICT innovation, Living Laboratories have been set up. Living Laboratories facilitate a setting that affords “experimentation environments in which technology is given shape in real life context and in which (end) users are considered co-producers” (Ballon, Pierson & Delaere, 2005:13).

In a Living Lab, design takes place across different settings. The “laboratory” as such is extended and becomes subjected to the “vagueness” of daily life. In addition to this, Living Labs promise to include “real” users in a co-creative manner. In terms of Science and Technology Studies (STS) this suggests that users are to become “co-writers” of technological scripts (Akrich, 1992). Including users in design is not a new practice. The call to focus on situated innovation echoes Suchman’s ideas on situated action and plans; “the vagueness of plans is ideally suited to the fact that the detail of intent and action must be contingent on the circumstantial and interactional particulars of actual situations” (Suchman, 2006: 183).

My research focuses on ICT design practices in Living Laboratories and how these practices work to include ICT users in a daily life setting. The initial focus of the project will be to assess what space Living Labs leave for users to creatively influence design processes. Currently a first project plan is finalized.

Advisor(s)

Prof. Dr. Nelly Oudshoorn http://www.mb.utwente.nl/stehps/about/staff/scientific/Oudshoorn.doc/

Dr. Ir. Ellen van Oost http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/people/scientific/oost/

Duration

2009 - 2013

Project

User innovativeness in Living Lab-practices

Funding institution

Dutch Research Delta http://www.dutchresearchdelta.nl/default.aspx

Strategic Research Orientation

Natural Interaction in Computer-mediated Environments

Links to relevant web pages:

http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/

http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/people/phd/sauer/sauer.doc/

http://www.dutchresearchdelta.nl/Themes/default.aspx

http://wtmc.net/

Pictures

Sabrina Sauer

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Home CTIT symposium 2013 About CTIT News NIRICT Research Meet the PhDs Working at CTIT Internal Information Conferences Open Calls (updated May 3, 2013) Library and Videos Knowledge Transfer Links Sitemap Search	User innovativeness in Living Lab-practices Description of research In order to better understand the relationship between users and technological artefacts so as to enhance ICT innovation, Living Laboratories have been set up. Living Laboratories facilitate a setting that affords “experimentation environments in which technology is given shape in real life context and in which (end) users are considered co-producers” (Ballon, Pierson & Delaere, 2005:13). In a Living Lab, design takes place across different settings. The “laboratory” as such is extended and becomes subjected to the “vagueness” of daily life. In addition to this, Living Labs promise to include “real” users in a co-creative manner. In terms of Science and Technology Studies (STS) this suggests that users are to become “co-writers” of technological scripts (Akrich, 1992). Including users in design is not a new practice. The call to focus on situated innovation echoes Suchman’s ideas on situated action and plans; “the vagueness of plans is ideally suited to the fact that the detail of intent and action must be contingent on the circumstantial and interactional particulars of actual situations” (Suchman, 2006: 183). My research focuses on ICT design practices in Living Laboratories and how these practices work to include ICT users in a daily life setting. The initial focus of the project will be to assess what space Living Labs leave for users to creatively influence design processes. Currently a first project plan is finalized. Advisor(s) Prof. Dr. Nelly Oudshoorn http://www.mb.utwente.nl/stehps/about/staff/scientific/Oudshoorn.doc/ Dr. Ir. Ellen van Oost http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/people/scientific/oost/ Duration 2009 - 2013 Project User innovativeness in Living Lab-practices Funding institution Dutch Research Delta http://www.dutchresearchdelta.nl/default.aspx Strategic Research Orientation Natural Interaction in Computer-mediated Environments Links to relevant web pages: http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/ http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/people/phd/sauer/sauer.doc/ http://www.dutchresearchdelta.nl/Themes/default.aspx http://wtmc.net/ Pictures