Fieldwork for Design: Theory and Practice (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) - Softcover

Randall, David; Harper, Richard; Rouncefield, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849966478 ISBN 13: 9781849966474

Publisher: Springer, 2010

Synopsis

This book shows why ethnographic approaches have been turned to in the design of computing devices for the workplace, for the home and elsewhere. It presents a history of ethnography, as it was practiced before computer science picked it up and since, most especially in the CSCW and HCI domains. It further examines the various currently popular ethnographic or ‘fieldwork’ frameworks, explaining and examining what each claims and entails. The focus of the book throughout is on the practical relationship between theory and practice, a relationship that is often misunderstood yet fundamental to successful design. The book is illustrated with real examples from the authors’ various experiences in academic and commercial settings, reporting on the use of ethnography before, during and after design innovation and implementation. The result is a book that provides the working knowledge necessary for using any kind of ethnographic approach in the design of computer technologies.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Fieldwork for Design looks at why ethnographic approaches have been turned to in the design of computing devices for the workplace, for the home and elsewhere. It presents a history of ethnography, both as it was practiced before computer science picked it up and since, most especially in the CSCW and HCI domains. It examines, further, the various ethnographic or ‘fieldwork’ frameworks currently popular, explaining and examining what each claims and entails. The focus of the book throughout is on the practical relationship between theory and practice, a relationship that is often misunderstood yet fundamental to successful design.

The book is illustrated with real examples from the authors’ various experiences in academic and commercial settings, reporting on the use of ethnography before, during and after design innovation and implementation. The result is a book that provides the working knowledge necessary for using any kind of ethnographic approach in the design of computer technologies.

Written to provide an overview of the topic for researchers and graduates, as well as practitioners, this book will prove an invaluable resource for all in the field.

As an HCI researcher and practitioner, I am delighted to see, at last, a balanced view about the practice of ethnography within our field.

Gary Marsden, Associate Professor of HCI, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Dave Randall is Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Richard Harper is a Senior Researcher for Microsoft

Mark Rouncefield is a Senior Research Fellow at Lancaster University

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1849966478
• ISBN 13: 9781849966474
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 342