Participatory IT Design

The goal of participatory IT design is to set sensible, general, and workable guidelines for the introduction of new information technology systems into an organization. Reflecting the latest systems-development research, this book encourages a business- oriented and socially sensitive approach that takes into consideration the specific organizational context as well as first-hand knowledge of users’ work practices and allows all stakeholders—users, management, and staff—to participate in the process. Participatory IT Design is a guide to the theory and practice of this process that can be used as a reference work by IT professionals and as a textbook for classes in information technology at introductory through advanced levels. Drawing on the work of a ten-year research program in which the authors worked with Danish and American companies, the book offers a framework for carrying out IT design projects as well as case studies that stand as examples of the process.

The method presented in Participatory IT Design—known as the MUST method, after a Danish acronym for theories and methods of initial analysis and design activities—was developed and tested in thirteen industrial design projects for companies and organizations that included an American airline, a multinational pharmaceutical company, a national broadcasting corporation, a multinational software house, and American and Danish universities. The first part of the book introduces the concepts and guidelines on which the method is based, while the second and third parts are designed as a practical toolbox for utilizing the MUST method. Part II describes the four phases of a design project—initiation, in-line analysis, in-depth analysis, and innovation. Part III explains the method’s sixteen techniques and related representation tools, offering first an overview and then specific descriptions of each in separate sections.

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span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";”>Popular axiom says that advent of modern technologies have changed the way we work and live. Evey one says that technology has improved our lives. Let us have a look at this myth. Personally speaking, using my computer has given me backaches, eye problems, wrist-aches and a sore neck.

My doctor says that this is ergonomics problem. He suggest I should change my posture, better still my work station. Is that it?

Understanding computers should be easy. For any user, the main area of concern is usability. And, for computer designers, usability has three commonly recognized components: Functionality to ensure that the computer solves the correct problems, ergonomics – an application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of computers, systems and environment – to guarantee the elimination of physical and psychological problems that may arise from the use of the product, and product’s accessible and supportive nature. “That is why the hardware and software manufacturers are going long way to obtain the opinion of consumers,” says Dr. Norbert, a researcher.

When discussing human and computer interaction, the focus is on all aspects of the human use of computers to improve the usability of IT systems. The physical design of computer parts affects how a person interacts with the computer. The goal of ergonomics is to optimize the human-machine and human-environment relationships by basically, fitting the systems to the needs of users. Research is being carried out to improve the design and make computers more ergonomic.

What to do till more friendly computers come up?Watch out and take care.

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