Anthropomorphism as a Strategy to Engage End-Users in Health Data Ideation
Bert Vandenberghe, Karin Slegers · 2016
Recent innovations in data technology hold great promise for new products or applications. However, creating meaningful data applications can be challenging. This is especially the case in a user-centered design or participatory design approach as most end-users find it difficult to grasp the essence and opportunities of an abstract concept such as data technology. This paper presents method to engage end-users in data ideation that draws on people's tendency to anthropomorphize technology. It uses a metaphor for health data by introducing the imaginary concept of omniscient, benign little people residing in one's body. Participants are facilitated in a step-by-step process to formulate questions they would like to ask these little people and the answers they expect to receive. This approach, illustrated with a study on personal health information, resulted in insights for developing meaningful data applications.