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The needfinding machine
Martelaro, Nikolas[Stanford, California] : [Stanford University], 2018.This thesis develops and evaluates a method for allowing designers to perform needfinding by remotely interacting with users in real-time through computer-enabled interactive devices. While interactive systems present new opportunities for creating intelligent products that adapt to their users, these devices may also help designers understand people's needs by providing a view into users' everyday experiences. This thesis asks: how can designers use interactive devices to connect with users to receive information and feedback about their in-context experiences with interactive products? To answer this question, I develop the Needfinding Machine. Using the Needfinding Machine method, a designer in-the-loop observes the user, asks questions through an interactive machine, and remotely performs the machine's behaviors in real-time as a way to conduct problem-space exploration in-context. This thesis has four major components. Part one gives an overview of the Needfinding Machine and situates the method among other design methods for understanding people and their needs. Part two presents a lab-based study exploring how we can use machines that speak to elicit meaningful information from people. I then move out of the lab and evaluate how practicing designers can use a needfinding machine to understand their users. Part three develops a needfinding machine for use in automobiles called WoZ Way. I then discuss a case study with designers from Renault using WoZ Way to understand driver experience with currently available advanced driving assistance features. Finally, part four presents a case study with an interaction research team from Spotify using a needfinding machine I developed, called DJ Bot, to explore people's experience with music in two contexts, the car and the home. These projects present a proof-of-concept for using interactive devices for real-time remote needfinding and describe how designers can engage with the Needfinding Machine method.
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Insight Through Need-Finding
Kothari, AkshayStanford (Calif.), April 24, 2013Pulse Co-Founder Kothari, Akshay describes how he came to appreciate the value of need-finding while working on innovative projects at Stanford. According to Kothari, "Understanding how people live is very important for building your products."
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Sp09-ME-27SI-01 : Needfinding for Underserved Populations. 2009 Spring
Kelley, DavidStanford (Calif.), 2009The heart of any design process resides in empathy with users and their needs. Working in the realm of public service may engage a population to which the designer might not have been exposed. How different needfinding techniques can help designers to understand users from underserved populations and inspire them to create products and services that serve user needs.
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