Innovation of New IT Use: Combining Approaches and Perspectives in R&D Projects

Abstract

This paper describes how Participatory Design has been adopted in a joint academic and industry research program called "Mobile Infonnatics." The objective of the research program is to produce innovations of new IT use in mobile settings. The particular focus of this paper is the Mobile Informatics Research Framework, which is the collaboratively developed research model for the program. The main argument of the research framework is that following four factors are needed: (1) participatory design to address the use-oriented focus of the program; (2), interdisciplinary collaboration to produce general IT artifacts; (3) scenario work to assure an ongoing, future-oriented perspective; (4) decision points to address commercial issues. Describing how Participatory Design was adopted in the research framework, and how it is combined with other perspectives and concerns, the paper aims at contributing to discussion of bringing Participatory Design into industrial contexts.