This document discusses the use of probes and proxy technologies to better understand user experiences with emerging technologies. Probes and proxies are used in the early concept development phase to gain insights that cannot be obtained from final products that do not yet exist. The summary is: Probes and proxy technologies are used in technology development to understand user experiences with concepts that have not yet been built. Low-fidelity probes use paper, pictures and scenarios while high-fidelity probes are early technological solutions. Proxy technologies are similar to envisioned technologies that are evaluated to forecast everyday uses. This research informs the design of technologies before full development.

1. Probe and proxies :
unraveling
meaningful technology
experiences An Jacobs
Wendy Van den
Broeck
Bram Lievens
Lizzy Bleumers
4th TQR conference 2013 , Fort Lauderdale

2. Our focus on the use of technology
as applied social scientists in technology development
Source: The Process of Design Squiggle,
Damien Newman

3. Why applied social sciences within technology development?
Problem
Current design pitfalls:
Technology push

4. A solution: Human centered design approach
 Combining consumer research & product
development (social & technical aspects)
characteristics:
1. Understanding requirements by user involvement
2. Balanced distribution between human and
technology of functions
3. Iteration of evaluation and design
4. Multidisciplinary

5. Human Emphasis on ‘is’ on a current situation or on a problem
centered
design
moves Participatory
design
Ethnographic
fieldwork
Emphasis on Emphasis on
end-users researchers’ and
knowledge Lead User Contextual designers’
Lead User
Approach Contextual
design
and on their Approach design knowledge and on
move towards their move towards
research and end users
design
activities
Co- Empathic
designing design
Source: Steen et
al 2007
Emphasis on ‘ought’ on future situation or on an opportunity

6. Users as innovators
Goal: beyond buying behavior (adoption)
Appropriation/habitualization (domestication)
Beyond people as end-users consumers
Creativity does not stop when product is on market, innovative
use
User does not simply adapt to product/technology
 Mutual shaping
Unanticipated use ( inappropriate use)
 Contextualized, situated use
 DOMESTICATION PERSPECTIVE
 Detect cultural and structural change in everyday practices,
meaning and conflicts in use

7. BUT
 Innovation paradox :
user insights can not be based on experience with final
product that is not developed yet
 Their cognitive map is functionally fixated in the
present
 The future is unpredictable
 Reflection of several stakeholders in making choices
Is helping to co-create this future
 Solution ? doing research with probes

8. Probing techniques:
Why and what?
1) information/inspiration 2) deeper
3) Participation

9. Probing methods in human computer interaction:
Origin and history: 1990’s
CULTURAL
PROBES
Gavers et al.
1997
Titel van de
presentatie
19/01/2013

10. Technological probing
 Used by different disciplines different
 Hutchinson et al (2003)
 Social science goal:
data collection concerning technology use and the users
 Design goal:
inspiration among users & designers on new technologies
 Engineering goal:
 technology tests in the users’ natural setting

11. Example Transecare: (2009-2010)
indepenefor care dependent
story board pictures to probe Piloting
2 X 3 set ups
5 monts 2009
4 months 2010
Detecting user and technical issues
and redesign

12. Proxy technologies + mock ups

13. Solutions doing research with probes:
Our approach:
 Low Fidelity :
 Pen & paper, pictures, scenario’s, mock up’s
 High Fidelity:
 Technological solution made for the social research
 = Technological probe
 Prototyping/demo of new technology:
 often bounded to lab or still instable
 (New) technological solution on market
 Proxy Technology Assessment (PTA)
(Pierson et al, 2006; Bleumers et al. 2010)

14. Type of R&D phase Time of Experience
probe with probes
Idea/concept Concept Concept Short Long
development elaboration evaluation 1 moment ≥ 4 weeks
Non tech
probes ✗ ✗ ✗ 
Tech
probes ✗ ✗ 
POC/protot
ype
✗ 
Off the

shelf tech ✗ ✗ ✗

15. Proxy technology assessment vs
Technology assessment
Technology assessment
= forecasting possible routes for different stakeholders
future development of technology will or can have
Proxy technology assessment
=analytical process, on micro level to co-construct plausible
everyday practices with future technologies
1) Substitute 2) indirect
connection

16. Compare technological probes/proxies
Technological probes Technological proxies
Hutchinson et al (2003)
Not necessary Resemblance to Some characteristics
envisioned similar
technology
Collect information about Logging Collaboration with
their own use. producer, else diary
method
Open-ended, give users Flexibility Less open ended,
freedom how they Innovative use always
appropriate it. Possible
✔ Analysis/reflection ✔
triggering from users
Simple & technical sound Deploy in real world Be fully functional to
Could have deliberate setting prevent fall out due to
chosen usability issues usability issues.

17. Characteristics of PTA
Starting
not from person, place or product but a practice
Then decide: which stuff ? situation? by who?
Using state of art technology having characteristics
and functions under study
Study Innovation in everyday practices
In conceptual phase of technological/product
development

18. Example MADUF
(Maximising DVBH usage in Flanders), 2006-2007
 TV watching = ! domesticated everyday life practice
= Stabilized, taken for granted
social bonding
ontological security
domestic
evening
 new portable devices
potential being on the move
 Mobile TV technology (e.g. DVB-H) = developed
≠ idea generation phase
= concept phase for application layer
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19. Selecting suitable proxy technology
central proxy
technology =
UMTS phone
with Vodafone
Live (third
generation
mobile
technology,
3G)
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20. Recruiting , mapping and roll out
Week 1: task list and questionnaire
Week 2: no data collection by user
Week 3 diaries and cultural probes
Week 4: no data collection by user
Week 5: depth interviews

21. Monitoring usage
 Elicit everyday life user experiences/practices to
forecast everyday practices with future
technologies
 Integrated in a multi method social research plan
 Desk research, observations
 Questionnaires, logging, diaries, cultural
probes,
visual clues, in-depth interviews
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22. How to do a PTA in practice?
1. Scoping
1. Which practice(s)? Which concept?
2. Which user group
3. which setting(s)?
4. List adequate proxy technologies
2. Selecting/sampling
1. suitable proxy technology
2. Selecting recruiting and profiling participants
3. Starting up proxy period
1. Mapping user setting
2. Distribution of proxy technology
4. Proxy period
1. Monitoring use
2. Eliciting reflection right after proxy period
5. Analysing data (in // with 4)
6. Reporting results

23. Technological objects as stimulus
 Not new
 Taste testing, lab testing
 In behavioral testing/experiment tradition
 Creativity design tools
 To generate new ideas
Here in PTA:
 1) in combination with other interpretative
techniques
 2) offering new reference point for systematic
reflection
 3) And collect data on use and experience of use,
design implications are secondary

24. Time for some more examples ?

25. Example HI-Masquerade (Human Interface Multicamera
Acquisition for story telling and qualitative enhance reality in ambient
3D environment ) (2008-2010)
The
concept?
• Project goal:
 Real-time, authentic,
immersive remote family interaction
in virtual worlds
• Question?
• Investigate potential value of virtual worlds for
family interaction
• Establish requirements

26. Method: profiles of respondents
 Participants
 Focus on interaction between young children and grandparents
 Child between 8 and 12 y old
 One of grandparents
 One of parents
 Focus on appropriation among those that have the basic skills and
means to use a virtual world application
 Access to the Internet
 Basis Internet skills
 Long term, in-depth qualititative study
 3 families participated
 Media rich households
 Mediated contact relatively traditional

27. Probing by storyboards
• Storyboards
• Visualizations of use
scenarios
• To elicit attitudes and
opinions
• First storyboard theme
• Sharing and reliving past
experiences together
• Second storyboard theme
• Creative and cooperative
play

28. Proxy Technology
• Chobots
• Web-based virtual
world targeted at
families
• Avatars
(customization)
• Individual and multi-
play
• Communication tools
• 4 weeks use (logbook)
+ interview

29. Example IM3 project
Interactive Mobile Medical Monitoring (2007 jun-sept)
(Interactive Mobile Medical
 12 people with chronic heart failure
 Offline diary and auto-collection of pictures
 Intake and follow up interview
 4 weeks total, 2 weeks diary
 Open ended & closed questions
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30. PTA Faking the real thing?
 Fake? Proxies are not the ‘real’, final products
 Real? Proxies provoke real reactions and
information about possible everyday use of final
product.

31. Q&A
an.jacobs@vub.ac.be
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