Device ecology mapper: a tool for studying users' ecosystems of interactive artifacts

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a tool for both researchers and designers called the Device Ecology Mapper, which allows users to share devices they own and describe to researchers how they believe these devices are connected. We built this tool from the theoretical perspective of ecology of artifacts in which designed artifacts do not exist independently, but rather in complex ecosystems with other artifacts through physical and perceptual connections. We designed the evaluations of this tool to evaluate the extent to which designers found the tool valuable and users found the tool true to the way they understand their ecology of interactive artifacts-rather than how closely user's perception of their ecology represents how these devices are actually connected. We found evidence for both perspectives from these studies.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.m MISCELLANEOUS

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
design, digital interactive artifact, ecology, personal ecosystem, user research