Home Repairs This presentation was created for a special topics course (GD492) at North Carolina State University. It is the mid-semester proposal for a mobile component within a service ecology that enables a specific group of people to learn a complex process. The service focuses on developing skills, rather than managing information—it performs analogously as training wheels, rather than crutches. Focusing on skill development implies that the person engages with the design conditions in order to learn how, what, and why to do something autonomously (without prolonged reliance on the design). The presentation includes an overview of the service ecology, user assessment, and specific design objectives for moving forward with creating a prototype and working demonstration. All material is copyright 2010. Please contact the manager of the slideshare account for questions and permissions. Process work can be found at www.seedandsprout.com/s10_gd492

1. Jen Edwards’
Home/Apartment Maintenence Aid
Development Document

2. inspiration
Jen’s Experience as an RA!
Many tenants at ES King Village are international
students, or graduate students new to apartment
living. The residents depend heavily on staff for
everyday solvable facilities issues (such as the pilot
light!). Teaching opportunities (such as tutorial vid-
eos for common issues) have been discussed, but
there’s no satisfactory solution yet.
Communications barriers are a hurdle. It can also be
very uncomfortable for residents to have to invite a
staff member into their home.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have the opportunity to build skills that could give some independance from always having to bring
someone into the home? Can apartment tenants start learning skills that will not only make them more proactive, “better”
tenants? What about better practices in areas like conserving energy (electrical bills!) and how to find and utilize resources?
Perhaps these skills are applicable generally to “taking care of one’s own home”, and skills from being a tenant can cross over
into possible future homeownership.

3. what’s available now?

4. learning goals
conservation
troubleshooting upkeep
safe practices using resources well

5. goals map

6. items to troubleshoot - in-progress list
water heater
heating system
oven/stove
plumbing
electric
roofing
walls
air conditioning

7. similar applications in itunes
iGuides Home Stuff
Homekeeper SprngClnChklist

8. storyboard - sample scenario

9. ethnography - an expert’s experience
keeping realistic expectations
energy monitoring
when the student makes an error
that messes up instructions
energy conservation
delivering instructions
peak energy hours
remotely
expert experiences wiring: basic concepts
plumbing
user-friendly connectors roof repairs
protecting home while working
maintenence & home protection