The Design of Everyday Things
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Computer Science
Abstract
The PhD investigates the nature of design practices being applied to the growing commercial field of the Internet of Things (IoT). In applying an ethnographic approach to understanding how traditional user experience (UX) design techniques are employed in developing IoT products and services, this PhD also looks to connect such industry developments with relevant work in Ubiquitous Computing and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research. Insights will be fed back into academic research through an informed understanding of the practicalities and constraints of applying these design techniques within a rapidly developing commercial environment of IoT.
Organisations
Publications
Castle-Green Teresa
(2019)
Designing with Data: A Case Study
in arXiv e-prints
Castle-Green T
(2020)
Decision Trees as Sociotechnical Objects in Chatbot Design
Castle-Green T
(2023)
Revisiting the Digital Plumber: Modifying the Installation Process of an Established Commercial IoT Alarm System
in Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1789265 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2021 | Teresa Castle-Green |
| Description | Part of the research involves ethnographic studies of work processes in commercial technology design settings. Detailed ethnographic reports of the observed work have been produced and fed back to the companies as a resource for reflection on their methods. This element of the work is still ongoing. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Presentation and review of ethnographic fieldwork findings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The activity involved fieldwork onsite within an industry setting gathering ethnographic data in the form of field notes, audio and video. This data was then analysed and written up as 2 academic papers before being presented back to key practitioners within the business who had participated in the research. Discussion of findings with practitioners was carried out during a visit to one of their UK offices and via video conference to a french site. These discussions sparked debate about the design methods used within the observed commercial project and potential considerations for future ways of working. Subsequent comments from the practitioners involved in the discussion indicated that they found the exercise insightful and in particular found the self-reflection it supported useful for their work moving forwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |