Paper Summary: |
This paper describes a study involving the use of a new television set in two households over the course of six months. During the study, the authors visited (approximately monthly) the users in their homes to learn about the usage of the system and its corresponding components, including sales materials, user manuals, etc. The study looks at the "development of use" of the television using activity theory (which involves "what, how, why and where-to artifacts").
Based on their study, the authors conclude that systems (which they refer to as "artifacts") will always be modified and shaped through use, possibly in ways unanticipated by designers and users. In their study, the authors observed that the intent of users (developed from sales and marketing materials of the product) actually ended up as something totally different once users began using the system. In their study, users adopted various parts of the system based on their needs and specific settings.
The authors conclude that the use of technology involves a process of evolution. They also believe that activity theory aids in the development of design recommendations, including the recommendation that developers need to design different kinds of learning opportunities as part of the technology. Furthermore, they support evaluation of technologies that involve the physical characteristics, interaction principles, and motivational factors in order to design for development for use.
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