Designing InWith Black Box Technologies and PD

Abstract

Building on prior work we examine design research challenges posed by working with new technological applications of Blockchain within multidisciplinary research. Drawing from recent design research of others, we articulate the value-and associated challenges-of Participatory Design creative approaches involving codesign of similar 'black box' technologies. We go on to report on three workshops, including one in which we invited technologists and designers to work together to talk through and materially represent their tacit understandings of how two Blockchain applications-BITNATION and Trust Stamp-work. We demonstrate how creative methods are useful in enabling critical reflection and knowledge exchange providing a useful bridge between radically different disciplines; to counter emerging technologies' 'unconscious image' as magic; and to valuably inform on future oriented design implications.

Creative Toolkits for TIPS

“…Socio-technical design is increasingly concerned with critically considering the impacts on society, citizens and non-human actors of current or near-future technologies and is pertinent to our work as design researchers. While current and emerging technologies have enormous societal potential, including through enhanced online privacy and security, their design involves many operational challenges, including through their immaterial illegibility; often challenging the understanding of technologists that help create them [28]; but certainly those of the multiplicity of stakeholders who commission, promote, benefit or otherwise from uptake and use. Concerns include the increasing 'reach' of data generating technologies as they encroach across every aspect of our everyday lives [28] [34] [14] [21].…”

“…The authors discussed a number of potentially relevant papers informed by their earlier work [28]. The first author conducted a broad search for papers published since 2011 focusing on, but not limited to HCI, Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Designing Interactive Systms (DIS) in the ACM Digital Library using keyword search term 'toolkit', extended variously through companion terms: 'toolbox', 'tools', 'techniques', 'physical modelling', 'physicalisation' etc to widen the scope of the search.…”

“…Storytelling and Reflective Annotation Annotation/notes [43] [5] [22] [11]; costume annotation [9]; day in the life exercises [7]; diaries/diary-study [7]; storytelling [17] [27] -timelines [28]; washing line scale [20]; creating story sheet/ storyboarding [11] [22] [21] [35]; fictional narrative [7]; narrative scenario [27]; persona cards [27]; newspaper story [9]; picture book [18]; speculative scenarios [12]; personal narratives [22]; fantasy persona [28]; current experience comic strip (CECS) [25] digital storytelling [22]; envisioning exercise [9]; privacy awareness interventions [10]; think-out-loud technology evaluations [10].…”

“…Improvisation, Performance and Role Play roleplay [9]; participatory theatre [10]; participatory envisioning and enactment [37]; improvised scenarios [7]; performance-derived improvisation methods [28]; props [4] [12] [28] [37].…”

“…Landscaping, Problem Setting and Mapping collage [7] [10] [17] [35] [37] [43] [11]; brainstorming [31] [11]; creative security engagements [35] [17]; probe [28]; Digital probe [10] Cultural probe [7] [10] [37] [38] [31] [22] [17]; exploratory interview [27]; information gathering kit [22]; boundary object [6]; cake assemblage [9]; tea party [43]; holistic mapping exercise [9]; participatory mapping [22]; mapping [37]; cognitive mapping [7].…”