This project is in progress. We're currently in the exploratory research phase. Our group blog is here!
Sensor-driven projects require the interaction designer's touch more than any other type of technology today. The intangible nature of the services that ubiquitous computing can provide requires a whole new language of affordances and controls. I look forward to exploring service design research and trying new interaction strategies on this project.
Phase One: Defining the Scope
Parents and young children share a uniquely intimate relationship. Mothers and fathers constantly monitor the child's behavior, attitudes, bodily functions, etc. My partners and I hope to use sensor technology to decrease the noise in a parent's home life so that they can enjoy the delights of parenting to the fullest.
Our first deliverable: a territory map, which helped us explore the stakeholders, environments, and forces affecting families and sensor technology.
Phase Two: Exploratory Research
A literature review, interview with subject matter expert, exploratory survey, cultural probe, and experience sampling yielded many insights about the parent experience. Our survey questions were:
What are your favorite parenting tasks?
Describe a time in the last couple of months in which you felt you were a good parent:
What factor(s) are most stressful in your family routine?
Reading the open-ended responses to our survey showed us which aspects of the parent experience are working well, and shouldn't be encroached upon by our final design. For all parents, including parents of toddlers, these main "loves" are reading, playing, and the bedtime routine. An interview with John Zimmerman, a professor on campus who specializes in family technology, confirmed that it'll be important for us in our design phase not to encroach upon parents' identity, including those "chores" that they take satisfaction in performing. Early responses to our experience sampling procedure (also known as a "beeper study") are giving us a nuanced look at how "chores" can provide a deep connection between parent and child while also causing conflict and anxiety.
A cultural probe was sent out to five families who responded to our survey.
Cultural probe materials were sent out to five families with children between the ages of 6 and 17. We chose families with older children so that the kids could answer questions we sent along, in addition to the mom and dad questions we sent.
Phase Three: Generative Research
We're currently scheduling research sessions with local dual-income families who have at least one child between the ages of 1-4. Sessions will begin on Feb. 22.
At the research sessions, we plan to observe the family in one of the everyday tasks that was mentioned in our survey, such as getting the child ready in the morning. We'll also ask interview questions about parents' aspirations and desires for technology in the home. We'll do a word cloud exercise if time permits, and leave a "homework" assignment for the parents--a "love letter" and "break up letter" for the mom and dad to write to a task they love and one they wish they could never have to do again. This will give us greater insight into the parents' needs.
