Anticipating the use of future things: Towards a framework for prospective use analysis in innovation design projects

Anticipation of future product use is a persistent issue in User-Centered Design. In this paper, we argue that one obstacle to early integration of use analysis in innovation design is overreliance on retrospective use analysis, i.e. that which is based on clear references to existing products or ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied ergonomics 2013-11, Vol.44 (6), p.948-956
Main Authors: Nelson, Julien, Buisine, Stéphanie, Aoussat, Améziane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Computer Simulation
Creativity
Equipment Design
Ergonomics
Ergonomics. Human factors
Forecasting
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Group Processes
Humans
Innovation design
Innovations
Integration
Inventions
Needs Assessment
Occupational psychology
Product use analysis
Prospective ergonomics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Uncertainty
User-Computer Interface
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Summary:Anticipation of future product use is a persistent issue in User-Centered Design. In this paper, we argue that one obstacle to early integration of use analysis in innovation design is overreliance on retrospective use analysis, i.e. that which is based on clear references to existing products or activities. In contrast, innovation design projects are full of uncertainty, leading to a need for prospective analysis. After having described some limitations of prospective use analysis, we contend that creativity tools may be used to assist the anticipation of future product use, by allowing designers to approach the variability of situations of future use in a structured manner rather than by “muddling through”. We illustrate the expected benefits of this approach with two case studies, and describe some prospects for future research and practice in ergonomics.
ISSN:0003-6870
1872-9126
DOI:10.1016/j.apergo.2013.01.002