Empowerment by technology: a critical analysis using a co-design approach

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterAcademic

    106 Citations (Scopus)
    38 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Background: As health-care policy increasingly focuses on ‘empowerment’ [1] technologies are developed to support persons on the autistic spectrum in independent living [2]. Technologies often straightforwardly help people performing daily tasks. We used co-design to explore first what ‘empowerment’ can actually mean, starting from the everyday lives of the people involved.

    Methods: Insights are grounded in three case studies. In each study we worked closely with one or two people on the spectrum (9 months - 4 years). Cycles of contextual interview, role-play, collaborative brainstorming, and prototype evaluation produced a designerly understanding of empowerment and empowering technology.

    Findings: Reflections on the cases revealed two interpretations of empowerment: 1) Functional: to design a tool that enables a person to (learn to) do something without the help of others. 2) Embodied: to design technology that helps a person to get a grip on ones’ lifeworld. This means to build technology as extensions of people’s talents and opportunities in the local setting, scaffolding a person’s own ways of doing [3].

    Discussion: In (1) co-design is a form of information gathering, to find out what is needed for a person to perform the task independently. In (2) the co-design project is just one phase in a larger transformation process driven by the person. We advise using tangible prototypes and collaborative activities in the use context. We envision technologies that people may later appropriate, personalize, and adapt in use. Finally, care-professionals have rich expertise and concern for clients, yet reason ‘as professionals’. It is important not judge the professional’s opinion as higher than that of the main user when making design decisions. Co-design can in fact help to align the two stakeholder perspectives.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages1
    Publication statusPublished - 2018
    Event8ste Conference Supporting Health By Technology 2018 - University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
    Duration: 1 Jun 20181 Jun 2018
    Conference number: 8
    http://healthbytech.com/

    Conference

    Conference8ste Conference Supporting Health By Technology 2018
    Abbreviated titleHealthbyTech 2018
    Country/TerritoryNetherlands
    CityEnschede
    Period1/06/181/06/18
    Internet address

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Empowerment by technology: a critical analysis using a co-design approach'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this