Of robots and humans : creating user representations in practice
Fischer, Björn LU
; Östlund, Britt
LU
and Peine, Alexander
(2020)
In Social Studies of Science
50(2).
p.221-244
- Abstract
In this study, we explore the constitution of user representations of robots in design practice. Using the results of ethnographic research in two robot laboratories, we show how user representations emerge in and are entangled with design activities. Our study speaks to the growing popularity of and investment in robotics, robots and other forms of artificial intelligence. Scholars in Science and Technology Studies (STS) have shown that it is often difficult for designers and engineers to develop accurate ideas about potential users of such technologies. However, the social context of robots and design settings themselves have received significantly less attention. Based on our laboratory ethnographies, we argue that the practices in... (More)
In this study, we explore the constitution of user representations of robots in design practice. Using the results of ethnographic research in two robot laboratories, we show how user representations emerge in and are entangled with design activities. Our study speaks to the growing popularity of and investment in robotics, robots and other forms of artificial intelligence. Scholars in Science and Technology Studies (STS) have shown that it is often difficult for designers and engineers to develop accurate ideas about potential users of such technologies. However, the social context of robots and design settings themselves have received significantly less attention. Based on our laboratory ethnographies, we argue that the practices in which engineers are engaged are important as they can shape the kind of user images designers create. To capture these dynamics, we propose two new concepts: ‘image-evoking activities’ as well as ‘user image landscape’. Our findings provide pertinent input for researchers, designers and policy-makers, as they raise questions with regards to contemporary fears of robots replacing humans, for the effectiveness of user involvement and participatory design, and for user studies in STS. If design activities co-constitute the user images that engineers develop, a greater awareness is needed specifically of the locales in which the design of robots and other types of technologies takes place.
(Less)
- author
- Fischer, Björn
LU
; Östlund, Britt
LU
and Peine, Alexander
- publishing date
- 2020-04-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Design practice, Engineering culture, Robots, User image, User representation
- in
- Social Studies of Science
- volume
- 50
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 24 pages
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85079407466
- pmid:32037966
- ISSN
- 0306-3127
- DOI
- 10.1177/0306312720905116
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work received partial funding from the Swedish research council for health, working life and welfare FORTE (Grant number: 2017-02301), as part of the More Years, Better Lives Joint Programme (MYBL).
- id
- ac5d4ea0-c163-43ad-aa03-9cd710c20ba7
- date added to LUP
- 2023-12-04 13:30:21
- date last changed
- 2024-06-12 14:45:22
@article{ac5d4ea0-c163-43ad-aa03-9cd710c20ba7,
abstract = {{<p>In this study, we explore the constitution of user representations of robots in design practice. Using the results of ethnographic research in two robot laboratories, we show how user representations emerge in and are entangled with design activities. Our study speaks to the growing popularity of and investment in robotics, robots and other forms of artificial intelligence. Scholars in Science and Technology Studies (STS) have shown that it is often difficult for designers and engineers to develop accurate ideas about potential users of such technologies. However, the social context of robots and design settings themselves have received significantly less attention. Based on our laboratory ethnographies, we argue that the practices in which engineers are engaged are important as they can shape the kind of user images designers create. To capture these dynamics, we propose two new concepts: ‘image-evoking activities’ as well as ‘user image landscape’. Our findings provide pertinent input for researchers, designers and policy-makers, as they raise questions with regards to contemporary fears of robots replacing humans, for the effectiveness of user involvement and participatory design, and for user studies in STS. If design activities co-constitute the user images that engineers develop, a greater awareness is needed specifically of the locales in which the design of robots and other types of technologies takes place.</p>}},
author = {{Fischer, Björn and Östlund, Britt and Peine, Alexander}},
issn = {{0306-3127}},
keywords = {{Design practice; Engineering culture; Robots; User image; User representation}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{221--244}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Social Studies of Science}},
title = {{Of robots and humans : creating user representations in practice}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0306312720905116}},
doi = {{10.1177/0306312720905116}},
volume = {{50}},
year = {{2020}},
}