
When design students, like Ben Arent, engage in extensive user research, I take notice.
Jive is a proof of concept for a new communication device - a range of 3 products designed to get elderly technophobes connected to their friends and family.
Unfortunately, Ben doesn't give information on whether the concept was iterated further based on contextual user testing. This would definitely be necessary to make sure the product would actually be used by the elderly.
Designers' Open 2008
DESIGN PHILADELPHIA 2008
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2008
FREEDESIGNDOM 2008
ManufRactured EXHIBITION
London Design Festival 2008
Core77 visits NASA:
DesignPhiladelphia 2008
UGLY:
Comments
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the kind words and the posting of the jive package.
I ran parts of my design though experience prototypes, and had geriatric1927 review these on-line. This was really us full feedback during the early development.
I also created a white board display unit, that was used to design interfaces with my a elderly group. As the concept has only just been finished, I plan to undertake some contextual user testing over the coming weeks, before the degree show http://www.pdeproduce.com and as I shall also be exhibiting at a HCI confernece http://www.cs.mdx.ac.uk/research/idc/create2008/
If you gran / grandad is in London and would like the review the concept, please get in touch!
Ben
I find it ironic that unique and precious relationships are represented by arbitrary plastic tags, placed in conveniently organized slots. I also doubt that the "Facebook" style communication will work for the elderly generation. Personally, I think hand writing a letter will be far more effective in expressing emotions than sending electronic data. The notion of being an "elderly" isn't just about physical disabilities and techno-phobia. It's about the quality of the communication that is harder to come by these days, especially from the younger generations.
good job, man!