Paper Info
Title
Using Cultural Probes in HCI4D/ICTD: A Design Case Study from Bungoma, Kenya
Abstract
Cultural probes have long been used in HCI to provide designers with glimpses into the local cultures for which they are designing, and thereby inspire novel design proposals. HCI4D/ICTD researchers are increasingly interested in more deeply understanding local cultures in the developing regions where they work, in designing technologies that are not strictly related to socioeconomic development, and in considering new design approaches. However, few use this subjective, design-led method in their research. In this paper, I present a case study detailing my experience designing and deploying cultural probes in Bungoma, Kenya. Returns from my comment cards and digital camera activities draw attention to probe recipients' unique experiences and to Bungoma's distinctive characteristics; they also inspired a series of speculative design proposals. My experience motivates a discussion that elaborates on how a cultural probes approach can benefit HCI4D/ICTD research by raising questions about generalizability, objectivity, and the pursuit of a single solution in design. More broadly, I offer a case study demonstrating an alternative way to approach design in HCI4D/ICTD.
Year
DOI
Venue
2020
10.1145/3392873
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Keywords
DocType
Volume
HCI4D,ICTD,Kenya,cultural probes,design,design workbooks,speculative design
Journal
4
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
CSCW1
2573-0142
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
0
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Susan P. Wyche138927.40