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Raising awareness of the environmental impact of energy generation and consumption has been a recent concern of contemporary society worldwide. Underlying the awareness of energy consumption is an intricate network of perception and social interaction that can be mediated by technology. In this paper we argue that issues regarding energy, environment and technology are very much situated and involve tensions of sociocultural nature. This exploratory investigation addresses the subject by introducing the design of a Socially-inspired Energy EcoFeedback Technology (SEET), which is composed of an interactive system to trigger and mediate collective savings and a tangible device as a public feedback. Results of an evaluation situated in the context of a school in a socially disadvantaged area in Brazil are discussed, shedding light on the sociocultural aspects related to the subject. The role of the SEET to motivate energy awareness collectively among the social group is assessed, as well as the design characteristics that contributed to that. Outcomes bring to light social aspects and dynamics that would hardly have been predicted, evidencing critical factors related to a socially inspired design approach in the energy awareness domain.

Abstract

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Abstract. This SIG will facilitate a debate concerning how best to support the development of indigenous HCI in developing countries, both as part of education and training systems and within industrial practice. BackgroundThere are signs of a new world economic and political order, where countries like Brazil, China, India and South Africa are emerging key players. There is also a developing awareness of their increased economic and political "muscle", especially as they begin to develop bilateral and multilateral agreements among themselves, increasing their strategic importance on the world stage. Some of these countries have rapidly developing IT industries supporting local (domestic) and / or global (offshoring) software development. In contrast to previous approaches, some are beginning to appreciate that a human-centred design approach to the development and use of ICT is critical both to maximize trade in local and global markets, and also in the socially-responsible development of their individual information societies.In this SIG we will seek to explore how indigenous approaches to the humancentred ICT should shape the socially-responsible development of information societies in developing countries. The human-centred approach that we refer to here is of key importance in major segments of the ICT industry, in software applications for business and industry, in consumer markets, and in areas of health and defence. Successful growth of the ICT sectors in these countries, focusing on both internal and external markets, will be dependent on paying increased attention to human, social and cultural factors.The number of usability professionals is growing significantly in those developing countries that have a significant ICT industry. Through a wide range of engagements