Call For Participation

Workshop: Designing human centered technologies for the developing world: HCI but not as we know it. Tue, 4 Sept. 2007 at the HCI 2007 conference, Lancaster, UK

With huge investments being made in ICT for development (ICT4D) and education (e.g. "$100 laptop," UN programmes etc.) and high expectations being raised, it is critical to ensure that ICT developments are in fact usable, useful, appropriate and well adapted to the communities and contexts in which they are intended to be used. This requires well designed solutions, which in turn requires appropriate human-centred design methods. However, it is unclear that methods largely developed for and with users in the developed world will prove appropriate in the developing world. This workshop aims to bring together interested parties and strengthen the User-centred design for development (UCS4D) community, as well as contribute to the body of knowledge about designing for and with communities in the developing world.

GOALS OF THE WORKSHOP

• Share experiences of Human Centred Design in the developing world;
• Identify key issues and patterns;
• Explore new, alternative and modified methods for human centred and participatory design of Development Technologies;
• Develop new partnerships - particularly international partnerships;
• Disseminate learning from this workshop through online and and offline publication; and
• Strengthen the HCI in Development Technology community.

To participate in this workshop submit a two-page position paper to Kevin Walker k.walker@ioe.ac.uk by 5 August 07. Suggested formatting Word Template.

POSSIBLE THEMES

• Case studies of user-centred design and participatory experiences in the developing world - both successes and failures;
• The difficulties of separating development and research objectives;
• Design of educational technology for development;
• Participatory methods from community action, education, agriculture, technology design, theatre, etc..;
• Innovative methods for designing for and with communities with diverse needs; or
• Managing expectations in participatory design projects.

Cost: £80 before 5 Aug. (workshop only) see HCI 2007

4. CALL FOR PAPERS

ICT4D is currently a 'hot research topic' in many fields with recent conferences (for example, eLearning Africa), conference tracks (CAL 07 ICT4D) and workshops (AI in ICT for Development Workshop) dedicated to the theme. However, until recently less attention has been paid to the specific difficulties of designing for and with communities in the developing world (see UCD4ID). How appropriate are developed-world participatory and human-centred methods? Should we be 'parachuting in' foreign methods and experts, or focusing attention on building local HCI expertise? Do we in fact have more to learn than to teach?

To participate in this workshop submit a two-page position paper. Possible themes are:

• Case studies of user-centred design and participatory experiences in the developing world - both successes and failures;
• The difficulties of separating development and research objectives;
• Design of educational technology for development;
• Participatory methods from community action, education, agriculture, technology design, theatre, etc..;
• Innovative methods for designing for and with communities with diverse needs; or
• Managing expectations in particpatory design projects.