Helena Tobiasson

Co-designing communication technology with and for families: methods, experience, results and impact

In academia and in industry there have been many projects focusing on technology in domestic spaces and the Smart home (Hindus 2001; Smith 2000). The focus has been on the place, i.e. the home, and the people living there, rather than the people and the places they inhabit. In this chapter we share experience from using cooperative and novel design methods developed within the project interLiving – Designing Interactive, Intergenerational Interfaces for Living Together. The methods were intended to involve families, both as groups and individuals of all ages, as well as the multidisciplinary research group, in co-design of communication devices for families. We highlight methods, results and impact for future research and development. Research presented here aimed to develop novel and appreciated communication artefacts and to improve design methods within participatory design.