virtually living together
In this paper, we discuss the possibility of a holistic approach in the design of new media for interpersonal communication. The key argument is that if we base our design on daily practice, this may inhibit truly innovative ideas from taking form, and, on the contrary, if we design using pure intuition and visions, the design is likely to fail due to a lack of connection to daily practice. Scenario-based design was hence used to makes us envision new media while field observations such as ethnographic studies, become a tool to retain the ties with everyday life. This duality can also be implemented, as we will describe, in a design that makes a bi-language/bi-levelled understanding of a product possible.
paper design new media interpersonal communication argument practical innovating vision connection scenario-based design observability tool understandability product interaction design blue-sky research inter-family communication language telepresence industrial design