Involving users in AT design: Sharing failures – unconference-style

Teachers/facilitators

Karin Slegers, PhD, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, research group Assistive Technology in Care, Heerlen, The Netherlands

Fenne Verhoeven, PhD, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, research group IT-innovation in Healthcare, Zwolle, the Netherlands

Loes Bulle-Smid, MSc, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, research group IT-innovation in Healthcare, Zwolle, the Netherlands

Description/Abstract

Based on the principles of unconferences, this session provides an open, relaxed atmosphere for participants to share experiences with involving users (e.g., clients and care professionals) in designing AT. Steering clear of a traditional lecture format, the content in this session is generated by the participants, embracing failure as a way of learning.

In small groups (cf. a World Café), participants are invited to ‘confess’ things they have done to involve users in the design process of new AT, that did not go according to plan. In current scientific practice, there is little room for sharing such failures. This is a pity, as knowing what does not work helps to prevent failures in the future. Rather than hiding failures, either epic or insignificant, this session offers an informal, constructive space for sharing and learning.

After confession, participants will collaboratively identify commonalities in the failures that were shared. This allows to understand possible causes which, in turn, helps to prevent similar failures in the future. The outcome, therefore, is a set of recommendations for preventing failures when involving users in designing AT. 

Learning outcomes

  1. At the end of the session, individual participants have gained knowledge about preventing failed approaches when involving users in AT design.
  2. After the session, individual participants are inspired to apply the principles underlying this session’s format (i.e. creating a relaxed atmosphere and encouraging people to share failures) to enable mutual learning in a constructive way in their own work.
  3. After the session, the AT design community has a better understanding of causes of failures when involving users in AT design and concrete recommendations for preventing such failures.