The purpose of this assignment is for you to identify a situation in which people use some kind of technology to solve a problem, for you to identify and write down the important human-technology interactions, and for you to communicate the situation to other people. In short, your assignment is to tell a story. Tell a story about one scenario in which people use technology to communicate, to learn, to decide, to plan, to make something, or to do some other essential human activity.
Technology is defined very broadly here. Paper and pencil are technology. Your scenario need not incorporate computers but it must involve paper.
At least three people must be involved in the story, and they must somehow interact with each other.
The actual topic does not have to be intriguing, though an intriguing story is always nice. Intriguing stories might include a behind-the-scenes look at the task hierarchy and information flow for calling the plays in a Ducks football game, running the stage during a major production at the Hult center, pressing the latest Wu-Tang CD at the (now defunct) local disc manufacturing plant, a shift change at the radio station, scheduling a hiking trip or church event, or mapping out and documenting a Frisbee golf course. Seemingly mundane daily activities can also be quite intriguing when studied in detail. These activities might include simply meeting for coffee or shopping for groceries.
Intriguing or not, the goal is to tell the story well, explaining what the people in the story are doing; why they are doing it; what is the task hierarchy; what are their information needs; and what information do they generate, record or transmit. Someone who hears or reads your story should thoroughly understand the situation, should start to understand many of the constraints that are satisfied by the current systems involved in the story, and should start to personally identify with the people in the story.
Random suggestions for thinking of scenarios: How does your friend start their day? What is involved in going to a football game or rock concert? Do you do any volunteer work? What do you do during a day of school? Perhaps look at your to-do list and see all the things you need to do. Why isn't each one done? Is it in part because each one involves information and communication that is not immediately available to you at this moment?
Like any good story, there should be some unresolved tension somewhere in the beginning or middle of the story, and resolution at the end. The technology and all three people in the story must all somehow contribute to the resolution.
Stories about talking on cell phones personally strike me as kind of boring, as do stories about sitting down at a computer to do your email. Partly it's just a matter of taste.
Here are a couple examples of previous submissions for this project, though the organization of the sections to include (i.e. The Setting, People Involved, etc.) was slightly different:
First, do the following two things in parallel.
(a) Find a partner with whom to work on this first project. Brainstorm on some interesting possible stories that you could tell. Figure out when you will meet to document the story. Figure out who will check out the digital camera from UofO Library Media Services, at 346-3091. Try to call in advance and reserve a camera.
(b) Read Chapters 1 & 2 in Rosson and Carroll (2002), the required textbook for the class. Especially pay attention to Chapter 2 because this relates directly to capturing and conveying a scenario. With your partner, make sure you both understand all of the key concepts introduced in Chapter 2.
Second, collect your data. Try to experience the scenario as it happens, or at least watch it as it happens, and take notes. Try to identify any tacit knowledge that is held by the various people in the scenario. Then get out your camera and try to capture each key activity,artifact, and person. Do not "mock up" a fake scenario. The stories must be real, and should capture a real-world event as it really takes place.
Third, write your story. The scenario must describe:
The Social Context
- setting
- people involved
- social relationships
The Activities
- expectations
- actions and reactions
- goals
- task hierarchy
The Artifacts
- tools or other objects
- information or communication appliances
- paper
- technology
- other systems (computer based or not)
The story must include photographs, and the photos must help communicate all of these things. As you try to write your story, questions may come up. You may find that you need to go back and capture some more data.
Your scenario should include roughly 1,500 to 2,000 words and about 5 to 10 photos. Use headings to signal where you discuss each point. Carefully read and follow the "Good Writing" section in the syllabus. The scenario should read like a term paper, in full sentences with section headings, but be written as a single scrolling web page that can be viewed by other students. Use no frames or other special formatting in your web page. Keep it very simple, like this one.
Give each photograph and diagram a caption that starts with "Figure n." Refer to each figure in the body of the story, and place the figure just after the reference to it. For example, Figure 1 shows Anthony working at his desk. Click-to-enlarge photos like this one are nice but not essential.
Figure 1. Anthony works at his desk. (Click to enlarge.)
Fourth, submit your work. At least a day before the due date and time, email me the URL where the scenario will appear on the web, even if it's not there yet. Any time before it is due, put your scenario on the web at that URL. Print out the web page and submit the paper version in class.
Fifth, each student should separately fill out and turn in a Group Member Evaluation in which you evaluate how you and your teammate each contributed to the project. These should be turned in separately, and are due with the assignment.
Sixth, come to class and be prepared to discuss what you learned in this project.
Grading criteria: Are each of the bullets above addressed in the paper? Does the scenario help me to understand how the current system works? Can I personally identify with the people in the story? Does the scenario clearly capture people doing something in their lives? Can I follow the plot? Is it interesting? Is the paper well-written?