Methods for applying Activity Theory to HCI Design

Activity Theory (AT) has been a recognised framework for enhancing design practices in HCI and related disciplines for a couple of decades. In most cases, AT has been deployed as an analytical framework for conceptualising user and contextual perspectives during systems design. However, the popularity of this framework has not yet resulted in operational methods and techniques that can easily and readily be applied in HCI design. The purpose of this workshop is to examine current methods and techniques based on AT so as to establish the feasibility of using this framework in HCI for practical design purposes. Given this remit, the term ‘HCI design’ is used in a much broader sense so as to incorporate the whole range of activities involved in the systems development process

Elements of a Theory of Design Artefacts: a contribution to critical systems development research. PhD Thesis.

The thesis emphasises material mediation in design, use and research by introducing the concept of design artefacts as a unifying perspective. This concept is based on a dialectical materialist approach comprising activity theory as a general perspective (mainly Engestrøm), and specifically the notion of primary, secondary and tertiary artefacts (Wartofsky). This background is complemented with the notion of boundary objects (Star), as mediators in boundary zones. Systems development is understood as a zone where heterogeneous praxes meet to change a given praxis through the construction and introduction of new (computer) artefacts; this zone is mediated by design artefacts, which make different sense to the various praxes (boundary objects). Four main themes are addressed by the thesis: Firstly, the notion of design artefacts as an integrating perspective on systems development research and praxis, is introduced and developed. Secondly, a uniform notion of development tying use and design together, is discussed in relation to designing for development in use, and in relation to the notion of design as the transformation of artefacts. Thirdly, a pragmatic philosophy of science based on the understanding of theories as design artefacts, is proposed. Fourthly, the issue of innovation and creativity, together with the role of the individual is programmatically pointed to

DHRS 2009 Proceedings of the Ninth Danish Human-Computer Interaction Research Symposium.

Since 2001 the annual Danish Human-Computer Interaction Research Symposium has been a platform for networking, and provided an opportunity to get an overview across the various parts of the Danish HCI research scene. This years symposium was held in Aarhus, Denmark on December 14, 200

Erotic Aspects of Everyday Life as a Challenge for Ubiquitous Computing

In this paper we discuss how interactive technology disables or enables erotic aspects of everyday life, and we discuss a number of design concepts in order to relate erotic aspects to the issue of visibility versus invisibility in ambient computing. This discussion has general relevance for the study of residual categories in ubiquitous computing

Aesthetic Approaches to Human-Computer Interaction

Proceedings of the NordiCHI 2004 Workshop, Tampere, Finland, October 24, 200

Challenges in Blood Pressure Self-Measurement

Blood pressure self-measurement (BPSM) requires patients to follow a range of recommendations in order to be considered reliable for diagnostic use. We investigated currently used BPSM interventions at four medical clinics combined with an online questionnaire targeting BPSM users. We found that the participating healthcare personnel perceived BPSM as a relevant and useful intervention method providing that the recommendations are followed. A total of six challenges were identified: (1) existing devices do not guarantee that the recommendations are followed, (2) healthcare providers cannot verify whether self-monitoring patients follow the recommendations, (3) patients are not aware of all recommendations and the need to follow them, (4) risk of patient induced reporting bias, (5) risk of healthcare provider induced data-transfer bias, and (6) risk of data being registered as belonging to the wrong patient. We conclude that existing BPSM interventions could be significantly affected by user-induced bias resulting in an indeterminable quality of the measurement data. Therefore, we suggest applying context-aware technological support tools to better detect and quantify user errors. This may allow us to develop solutions that could overcome or compensate for such errors in the future

Residents’ Democratic engagement in public housing and urban areas – structures, formalities and technologies

The workshop gathers people from various sectors inside and outside academia to discuss the current state of, and the prospects for IT in the support of residents’ democratic engagement in, and around, public housing.

Proceedings of the Sixth Danish Human-Computer Interaction Research Symposium.

Proceedings of theSixth Danish Human-Computer Interaction Research Symposium.Aarhus, Denmark, November 15, 200