Critiques for Week 3
01 Gaver, Interactions - Cultural Probes (1999)
'Cultural Probes', a carefully designed package of postcards, maps, cameras, photo albums and others, were an artist-designer type of approach specifically made to elicit inspiring responses. It was used during the a research project that aimed to increase the presence of the elderly in diverse local communities such as Oslo, Bijlmer, and Peccioli. The probes were handed out to the selected elderly respondents in a packet form.
The probes allowed the elderly to write down or record their lives through the process of answering to oblique questions or describing their life and surroundings. The aim of this research was not to take an objective look at the elderly's responses, on the other hand, it tried to understand the respondents in an impressionistic way.
It also helped the researchers and the elders to overcome the distances in between by its design features and the intended familiarity of the medium.
As a result, the researchers could find out that the elderly share a different characteristics which affected each of the design proposals in turn. The cultural probe acted as role that allowed both the researchers and the respondents to familiarize each other and communicate.
Since many social researches are conducted under the methods of observation and require objective conclusions, it was interesting to know that taking a look at some random/casual responses of the users (respondents) could also provide a number of usefulness. Also, in this case of the project with the elderly, the Probes did a significant role in bridging the gap. Therefore, I learned that if I were to conduct a study about the user group that I am unfamiliar with, the Probes could be one of the possible options.
02 Gaver, Interactions - Cultural Probes and the value of uncertainty (2004)
After the 'Cultural Probes', many researchers around the world chose this specific approach for their research/design projects. However, Gaver points out that many of the approaches were conducted in a rather troubling way: it tried to rationalize and analyze the responses in a scientific perspective.
The reading states that the Probes should maintain subjectivity and provide the researchers with fresh ideas while keeping a proper amount of distance to prevent arrogance (that they 'know' the respondents).
Due to the fact that objectivity is known as one of the principles of scientific research, I believe that people misled the Probes just as a familiar type of survey (which is not). By going through the reading, I could understand that the true purpose of cultural probes is to understand, not just to observe.
After the 'Cultural Probes', many researchers around the world chose this specific approach for their research/design projects. However, Gaver points out that many of the approaches were conducted in a rather troubling way: it tried to rationalize and analyze the responses in a scientific perspective.
The reading states that the Probes should maintain subjectivity and provide the researchers with fresh ideas while keeping a proper amount of distance to prevent arrogance (that they 'know' the respondents).
Due to the fact that objectivity is known as one of the principles of scientific research, I believe that people misled the Probes just as a familiar type of survey (which is not). By going through the reading, I could understand that the true purpose of cultural probes is to understand, not just to observe.
TaskCams are digital cameras that are designed for probe tasks. By giving out tasks to the users, it not only captures casual experiences for the research but also guarantees playfulness.
I think that TaskCam provides a lot of researchers with the opportunity to play with the uncertainty of Cultural Probes in that it has high accessibility. Also, I would like to try it myself, if I get the chance.
댓글
댓글 쓰기