Title: Technology Probes for the design of a communication systems for seniors

Abstract:
The field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is composed of many bodies of research including sociology, psychology, design and engineering. This diversity reflects of the complexity of human computer interactions and underlines the need for HCI researchers to tackle HCI problems from different perspectives. While realizing more than one study for a given space requires a great amount of resources, cross fields methods can be designed to study Human Computer Interaction from different viewpoints.

Technology Probes are one of such methodologies. Developed during the interLiving Project, it aims at studying usersŐ interaction with a system through a sociology, psychology, engineering and design perspective. However, as the methodology is still needs refinements, more work is required to precisely define Technology Probes. Their role and impact in the design or research process need to be refined, Alternative areas of deployment need to be investigated.

This report presents the current research being undertaken by Yann Riche on Technology Probes. It presents an in depth review of the literature on the topic as well as a review of the field of design in which the methodology is to be applied. It then provides description and results of two studies that explored communications for elderly, probes and technology probes. Particular domains of investigations as well as a first refinement of the probes and technology probes concepts are suggested.