Design for dynamic use situations - first steps in the development of a design method that surpports designing for dynamic use situations

More and more consumer products are used in situations that are characterized by varying users, user characteristics, environments and purposes. This increase of the ‘dynamics’ of use situations is caused by technological developments. The ongoing trend of automation of services results in an increasing number of products that are used by a wide variety of people such as ATM’s, copiers and museum audio guides. Furthermore the growing opportunities of wireless applications result in an increasing number of mobile products that therefore can be used in different kinds of environments. A static environment can be dynamic as well when objects and persons within it are subject to change. In order to support the needs of each individual user in each individual context of use a designer should attune products to this dynamic use situation, thereby achieving a high level of usability. This paper discusses the criteria a design method for dynamic use situations should meet