Metodologia participativa para repositórios de recursos educacionais abertos

This research deals with the use of a participatory design methodology to develop a repository of open educational resources, the Arcaz. Discusses key aspects of neutrality and determinism of technology within the context of Social Studies of Science and Technology and presents some concepts of critical theory of technology related to the democratic construction of technological artifacts. Discusses the philosophical heritage of the movements that led to the emergence of free software, open education and open educational resources and argues that participatory design share similar ideals. It presents concepts of human-computer interaction, interaction design and user centered design, important to enhance the user experience in information systems. It addresses the participatory design as a methodology that allows the democratic participation of users in the technological construction, promoting mutual learning and active voice for the participants. Develops a participatory design methodology adapted to the Arcaz context of use and provides the procedures for the meetings conducted to apply participatory design techniques to the repository and the results obtained. It concludes with a study of some of the interventions suggested in the system and orientations for future applications of participatory practices in the development of the repository and a list of best practices, focusing on ethical principles that should guide the participatory design.

Desenvolvimento de um kit de apoio a crianças com perturbações do espetro autista

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Design de Comunicação, apresentada na Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Arquitetura.

A HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE USER EXPERIENCE OF SOFTWARE UPDATES

Software updates are critical to the security of software systems and devices. Yet users often do not install them in a timely manner, leaving their devices open to security exploits. This research explored a re-design of automatic software updates on desktop and mobile devices to improve the uptake of updates through three studies. First using interviews, we studied users’ updating patterns and behaviors on desktop machines in a formative study. Second, we distilled these findings into the design of a low-fi prototype for desktops, and evaluated its efficacy for automating updates by means of a think-aloud study. Third, we investigated individual differences in update automation on Android devices using a large scale survey, and interviews. In this thesis, I present the findings of all three studies and provide evidence for how automatic updates can be better appropriated to fit users on both desktops and mobile devices. Additionally, I provide user interface design suggestions for software updates and outline recommendations for future work to improve the user experience of software updates.

Exploration de l’expérience de tirer son lait par les mères : constats dans une optique de design

Le tire-lait est un appareil conçu pour aider les mères durant l’allaitement. Selon la recherche préliminaire effectuée, c’est un thème très peu exploré dans les études; il est donc difficile d’affirmer si le produit répond correctement aux besoins reliés à son usage et à son utilité ou comment il s’intègre dans l’allaitement. Les fondements de l’étude exploratoire ont été bâtis sur ces enjeux dans le but de comprendre l’expérience d’usage du tire-lait. Inspirée de l’approche phénoménologique centrée sur l’usager, l’étude a permis d’amasser des données qualitatives à travers des entrevues semi-dirigées auprès de sept participantes. L’analyse de ces données a permis d’identifier les thèmes importants qui ont mené à des constats, rédigés dans une optique de design. L’étude a trouvé que c’est souvent quand la réalité de l’allaitement au sein rattrape les mères qu’elles vont vouloir se procurer un tire-lait, en s’inspirant des marques utilisées dans les hôpitaux par manque de temps. Le tire-lait devient alors principalement utile pour se désengorger et pour la liberté qu’il procure, s’intégrant dans une routine. Le tire-lait est par contre peu ergonomique; il semble y avoir un décalage entre le concept proposé et les manipulations réelles, notamment au niveau de la mise en marche, des bouteilles et des embouts. Ces résultats de l’étude pourraient être intégrés dans le tire-lait pour mieux représenter la réalité du contexte, de la pratique et de l’usage du produit. Ils pourraient ainsi nourrir le processus de conception dans un projet futur afin d’améliorer le design du tire-lait.

Avaliação de força de preensão manual e teste de usabilidade em embalagens com tampas de segurança: parâmetros para o design ergonômico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Interface Engineering and Design: Adaptibility Problems

* The research work reviewed in this paper has been carried out in the context of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research funded project “Adaptable Intelligent Interfaces Research and Development for Distance Learning Systems”(grant N 02-01-81019). The authors wish to acknowledge the co-operation with the Byelorussian partners of this project.

The Design with Intent Method: a design tool for influencing user behaviour

Using product and system design to influence user behaviour offers potential for improving performance and reducing user error, yet little guidance is available at the concept generation stage for design teams briefed with influencing user behaviour. This article presents the Design with Intent Method, an innovation tool for designers working in this area, illustrated via application to an everyday human–technology interaction problem: reducing the likelihood of a customer leaving his or her card in an automatic teller machine. The example application results in a range of feasible design concepts which are comparable to existing developments in ATM design, demonstrating that the method has potential for development and application as part of a user-centred design process.

Product/Brand co-creation methodology crossing marketing, design thinking, creativity and management: ideas(r)evolution

This thesis introduce a new innovation methodology called IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION that was developed according to an on-going experimental research project started in 2007. This new approach to innovation has initial based on Design thinking for innovation theory and practice. The concept of design thinking for innovation has received much attention in recent years. This innovation approach has climbed from the design and designers knowledge field towards other knowledge areas, mainly business management and marketing. Human centered approach, radical collaboration, creativity and breakthrough thinking are the main founding principles of Design thinking that were adapted by those knowledge areas due to their assertively and fitness to the business context and market complexity evolution. Also Open innovation, User-centered innovation and later on Living Labs models emerge as answers to the market and consumers pressure and desire for new products, new services or new business models. Innovation became the principal business management focus and strategic orientation. All this changes had an impact also in the marketing theory. It is possible now to have better strategies, communications plans and continuous dialogue systems with the target audience, incorporating their insights and promoting them to the main dissemination ambassadors of our innovations in the market. Drawing upon data from five case studies, the empirical findings in this dissertation suggest that companies need to shift from Design thinking for innovation approach to an holistic, multidimensional and integrated innovation system. The innovation context it is complex, companies need deeper systems then the success formulas that “commercial “Design thinking for innovation “preaches”. They need to learn how to change their organization culture, how to empower their workforce and collaborators, how to incorporate external stakeholders in their innovation processes, hoe to measure and create key performance indicators throughout the innovation process to give them better decision making data, how to integrate meaning and purpose in their innovation philosophy. Finally they need to understand that the strategic innovation effort it is not a “one shot” story it is about creating a continuous flow of interaction and dialogue with their clients within a “value creation chain“ mindset; RESUMO: Metodologia de co-criação de um produto/marca cruzando Marketing, Design Thinking, Criativity and Management - IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION. Esta dissertação apresenta uma nova metodologia de inovação chamada IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION, que foi desenvolvida segundo um projecto de investigação experimental contínuo que teve o seu início em 2007. Esta nova abordagem baseou-se, inicialmente, na teoria e na práctica do Design thinking para a inovação. Actualmente o conceito do Design Thinking para a inovação “saiu” do dominio da area de conhecimento do Design e dos Designers, tendo despertado muito interesse noutras áreas como a Gestão e o Marketing. Uma abordagem centrada na Pessoa, a colaboração radical, a criatividade e o pensamento disruptivo são principios fundadores do movimento do Design thinking que têm sido adaptados por essas novas áreas de conhecimento devido assertividade e adaptabilidade ao contexto dos negócios e à evolução e complexidade do Mercado. Também os modelos de Inovação Aberta, a inovação centrada no utilizador e mais tarde os Living Labs, emergem como possiveis soluções para o Mercado e para a pressão e desejo dos consumidores para novos productos, serviços ou modelos de negócio. A inovação passou a ser o principal foco e orientação estratégica na Gestão. Todas estas mudanças também tiveram impacto na teoria do Marketing. Hoje é possivel criar melhores estratégias, planos de comunicação e sistemas continuos de diálogo com o público alvo, incorporando os seus insights e promovendo os consumidores como embaixadores na disseminação da inovação das empresas no Mercado Os resultados empiricos desta tese, construídos com a informação obtida nos cinco casos realizados, sugerem que as empresas precisam de se re-orientar do paradigma do Design thinking para a inovação, para um sistema de inovação mais holistico, multidimensional e integrado. O contexto da Inovação é complexo, por isso as empresas precisam de sistemas mais profundos e não apenas de “fórmulas comerciais” como o Design thinking para a inovação advoga. As Empresas precisam de aprender como mudar a sua cultura organizacional, como capacitar sua força de trabalho e colaboradores, como incorporar os públicos externos no processo de inovação, como medir o processo de inovação criando indicadores chave de performance e obter dados para um tomada de decisão mais informada, como integrar significado e propósito na sua filosofia de inovação. Por fim, precisam de perceber que uma estratégia de inovação não passa por ter “sucesso uma vez”, mas sim por criar um fluxo contínuo de interação e diálogo com os seus clientes com uma mentalidade de “cadeia de criação de valor”

Contribution towards a reflection about methodological strategies in design education and the function of drawing in design

This work presents a reflection on Design education and specifically on the role of Drawing in this area. As a subject, Design has expanded its field of action expanding into new areas such as Experience Design or Service Design. It became necessary for the designer to have more than an education based on technological knowledge or know-how. Many authors like Meredith Davis, Don Norman or Jamie Hobson point out the urgency to review the curricula of Design courses because nowadays “… design is more than appearance, design is about interaction, about strategy and about services. Designers change social behavior” (Norman 2011). When shifting from a product-centered design to a person-centered design (in a structure, a service or in a relationship) what should the function of drawing in a design course be? What should its curriculum be? Our work methodology will be to confront today’s perspectives on design theory and practice in an attempt to add to the discussion on the methodological strategies in design teaching in the contemporary context.

Contribution towards a reflection about methodological strategies in Design Education and the function of Drawing in Design

This work presents a reflection on Design education and specifically on the role of Drawing in this area. As a subject, Design has expanded its field of action expanding into new areas such as Experience Design or Service Design. It became necessary for the designer to have more than an education based on technological knowledge or know-how. Many authors like Meredith Davis, Don Norman or Jamie Hobson point out the urgency to review the curricula of Design courses because nowadays “ … design is more than appearance, design is about interaction, about strategy and about services. Designers change social behavior” (Norman, 2011) When shifting from a product-centered design to a person-centered design (in a structure, a service or in a relationship) what should the function of drawing in a design course be? What should its curriculum be? Our work methodology will be to confront today’s perspectives on design theory and practice in an attempt to add to the discussion on the methodological strategies in design teaching in the contemporary context.

La Gestión de la Información Personal en usuarios intensivos de las TIC

Se presenta un modelo de análisis del comportamiento informacional global de un colectivo de individuos (estudiantes de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) que tienen una percepción positiva sobre el uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación y que realizan un uso intensivo de las mismas.A partir de una aproximación cualitativa, mediante 24 entrevistas y un posterior análisis del contenido, se identifican cuatro perfiles distintos de gestión de la información personal (reactivo, pasivo, exhaustivo y proactivo) en base a diez variables subyacentes (acceso, gestión y usos de la información, competenciasinformacionales, perfil cognitivo, actitud, percepción de las TIC, ámbito académico, profesional y de la vida diaria) y se ponen derelieve las diferencias de comportamiento informacional dependiendo del ámbito en el que se encuentren. La identificación de los perfiles es un estadio básico del diseño centrado en los usuarios que facilita la realización de intervenciones específicas para cada tipo de usuario, respetando requerimientos de herramientasy procesos para que puedan desarrollar su comportamiento informacional de forma eficiente y eficaz.

Säähavaintoaseman käytettävyyteen vaikuttavat tekijät

Diplomityön tarkoituksena on tuoda esiin tuotteen käytettävyyden kehittämisen tärkeyden osana uuden tuotteen kehittämistä. Tavoitteena on analysoida liikuteltavan säähavaintoaseman käytettävyyden nykytilanne ja löytää mahdollisia käytettävyyden kehittämisalueita. Työssä käydään läpi eri käytettävyyden määritteitä ja käytettävyyden testausta. Käytettävyyden tarkastelunäkökulmia ovat asiakkaiden vaatimukset tuotteelle ja yleinen käytettävyyden subjektiivinen analysointi perustuen hyväksi tunnettuihin suunnittelun perusteisiin, heuristiikkoihin. Säähavaintoasemat ovat valittu eri segmenteistä, jotta voidaan tutkia säähavaintokonseptia, jollaista ei tänäpäivänä vielä ole ja löytää käyttäjien mahdollisia tulevaisuuden tarpeita. Näin saadaan myös laaja näkökulma eri segmenteille suunnattujen säähavaintoasemien käytettävyydestä.Käytettävyyttä voidaan pitää tehokkaana myyntiargumenttina. Tämä edellyttää läheistä yhteistyötä käyttäjien kanssa ja tietoa tuotteen käyttöympäristöstä. Tuotteen tulisi tutkimusten perusteella olla yksinkertainen toiminnoiltaan ja luotettava, jotta se vastasi käyttäjien tarpeita. Työssä osoitetaan myös useita käytettävyyden kehittämisalueita, joita kehittämällä voidaan vastata käyttäjien tarpeita. Tutkimuksen perusteella tutkittavat säähavaintoasemat voisivat olla käyttäjäystävällisempiä ja vastata paremmin käyttäjän tarpeita.Jatkotoimenpiteinä ehdotetaan esille tulleiden säähavaintoseman käytettävyyden osa-alueiden tarkempaa kartoittamista ja erityisesti käyttäjien tomintaympäristöjen ymmärtämistä. Näin varmistetaan käyttäjäystävällisyyden huomioiminen aikaisessa tuotesuunnitteluprosessin vaiheessa. Tuotteen käytettävyyden huomioiminen aikaisessa suunnitteluvaiheessa on yleensä myös edullista yhtiölleDiplomityön tarkoituksena on tuoda esiin tuotteen käytettävyyden kehittämisen tärkeyden osana uuden tuotteen kehittämistä. Tavoitteena on analysoida liikuteltavan säähavaintoaseman käytettävyyden nykytilanne ja löytää mahdollisia käytettävyyden kehittämisalueita. Työssä käydään läpi eri käytettävyyden määritteitä ja käytettävyyden testausta. Käytettävyyden tarkastelunäkökulmia ovat asiakkaiden vaatimukset tuotteelle ja yleinen käytettävyyden subjektiivinen analysointi perustuen hyväksi tunnettuihin suunnittelun perusteisiin, heuristiikkoihin. Säähavaintoasemat ovat valittu eri segmenteistä, jotta voidaan tutkia säähavaintokonseptia, jollaista ei tänäpäivänä vielä ole ja löytää käyttäjien mahdollisia tulevaisuuden tarpeita. Näin saadaan myös laaja näkökulma eri segmenteille suunnattujen säähavaintoasemien käytettävyydestä.Käytettävyyttä voidaan pitää tehokkaana myyntiargumenttina. Tämä edellyttää läheistä yhteistyötä käyttäjien kanssa ja tietoa tuotteen käyttöympäristöstä. Tuotteen tulisi tutkimusten perusteella olla yksinkertainen toiminnoiltaan ja luotettava, jotta se vastasi käyttäjien tarpeita. Työssä osoitetaan myös useita käytettävyyden kehittämisalueita, joita kehittämällä voidaan vastata käyttäjien tarpeita. Tutkimuksen perusteella tutkittavat säähavaintoasemat voisivat olla käyttäjäystävällisempiä ja vastata paremmin käyttäjän tarpeita.Jatkotoimenpiteinä ehdotetaan esille tulleiden säähavaintoseman käytettävyyden osa-alueiden tarkempaa kartoittamista ja erityisesti käyttäjien tomintaympäristöjen ymmärtämistä. Näin varmistetaan käyttäjäystävällisyyden huomioiminen aikaisessa tuotesuunnitteluprosessin vaiheessa. Tuotteen käytettävyyden huomioiminen aikaisessa suunnitteluvaiheessa on yleensä myös edullista yhtiölle

Avaluació de webs acadèmiques científiques

En aquest TFC s'intenta mostrar la necessitat d'implementar la usabilitat per a la millora de les webs, sobretot de les orientades als serveis, com ara una web educativa.

Improving and User Interface to E-Procurement Software Used in Asset Accounting and Investigating Effects to Efficiency

This diploma thesis has been done to international organization which takes care from the accounting actions of two major companies. In this organization are used three different purchasing tools which are used when new asset master data is wanted to input to SAP R/3- system. The aim of this thesis is to find out how much changing the user interface of one of these three e-procurement programs will affect to overall efficiency in asset accounting. As an addition will be introduced project framework which can be used in future projects and which help to avoid certain steps in the development process. At the moment data needs to be inputted manually with many useless mouse clicks and data needs to be searched from many various resources which slow down the process. Other organization has better tools at the moment than the myOrders system which is under investigation Research was started by exploring the main improvement areas. After this possible defects were traced. Suggested improvements were thought by exploring literature which has been written from usability design and research. Meanwhile also directional calculations from the benefits of the project were done alongside with the analysis of the possible risks and threats. After this NSN IT approved the changes which they thought was acceptable. The next step was to program them into tool and test them before releasing to production environment. The calculations were made also from implemented improvements and compared them to planned ones From whole project was made a framework which can be utilized also to other similar projects. The complete calculation was not possible because of time schedule of the project. Important observation in the project was that efficiency is not improved not only by changing the GUI but also improving processes without any programming. Feedback from end user should be also listened more in development process. End-user is after all the one who knows the best how the program should look like.

Usability Centered Implementation of a Web Based Value Added Module

Customer specific functionalities are a challenging part of procurement and invoice automation environments. In Basware Enterprise Purchase to Payment product family the customer specific reports are supported only in a basic level without any seamless interface between all EPP products. Also other customer specific functionalities are not supported as there is no customizable interface between the applications and only the most common features are implemented to the products themselves. In this thesis foundations are created for a new web based value added module where it is possible to create seamless customer specific functionalities throughout the whole EPP product family. The work is implemented in a Proof of Concept type of piloting. The system is created in user centered way where the users are able to explain their requests and determine their needs. The result is an excellent foundation for a module that can be developed further.