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A. Mink
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Guidelines for the design of digital knowledge
Empowering Bangladeshi communities to improve their water safety
Conference paper
(2021)
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Nayantara E. Thomas, Annemarie Mink, Abhigyan Singh, Bilqis Amin Hoque, Doris van Halem, Jan-Carel Diehl
Bangladesh has the largest proportion of people exposed to arsenic contamination in water. Studies have shown that awareness campaigns have positively influenced communities regarding their choice of safe water sources. In order to reach and engage communities in adopting safe water supply systems, there is scope in using smartphones to help in monitoring, operation and maintenance and bringing awareness around water safety. The Tapp-BDP app is being developed to tackle this. Its desired functionalities are: water quality field testing, service delivery, payment, interaction, and a knowledge domain on water safety. Specific to the knowledge domain of the app, the challenge is to digitally convey a complex topic in an understandable manner to improve trust within the water supply system and to empower the stakeholders to take charge of their own water supply. ICT provides the opportunity to quickly convey knowledge in new, attractive ways, but is not always inclusive to all. Through the investigation of the complex water safety context, the attributes of the target group as well as using smartphones as a communication channel the outcomes of this project resulted in a set of guidelines that support the development of digital knowledge.
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Bangladesh has the largest proportion of people exposed to arsenic contamination in water. Studies have shown that awareness campaigns have positively influenced communities regarding their choice of safe water sources. In order to reach and engage communities in adopting safe water supply systems, there is scope in using smartphones to help in monitoring, operation and maintenance and bringing awareness around water safety. The Tapp-BDP app is being developed to tackle this. Its desired functionalities are: water quality field testing, service delivery, payment, interaction, and a knowledge domain on water safety. Specific to the knowledge domain of the app, the challenge is to digitally convey a complex topic in an understandable manner to improve trust within the water supply system and to empower the stakeholders to take charge of their own water supply. ICT provides the opportunity to quickly convey knowledge in new, attractive ways, but is not always inclusive to all. Through the investigation of the complex water safety context, the attributes of the target group as well as using smartphones as a communication channel the outcomes of this project resulted in a set of guidelines that support the development of digital knowledge.
In the arsenic-contaminated Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in India and Bangladesh, small-scale piped water supply seems a promising way to provide safe drinking water to households in the region. The use of smartphone applications can support monitoring of the system and enhance local engagement and empowerment. In this paper the scope for mobile crowd participation as a research and monitoring tool for piped water supply systems in Bihar, India and in Khulna and Chittagong, Bangladesh is investigated. In these areas, the use of smartphones and internet access are growing rapidly and smartphone applications would enable real-time water quality monitoring, payment of water bills, awareness creation, and a dialogue between the end-user and the water supplier. To identify the relevance and acceptability of piped water supply and smartphone monitoring, four surveys with potential end-users were conducted. Based on these surveys we conclude that in the investigated areas there is a desire for piped water systems, that households already own smartphones with internet access, and that there is an interest in smartphone monitoring. The enabling environment to deploy mobile crowd participation for piped water system monitoring stimulates further research towards an investigation of potential functionalities and the actual development of such an application.
...
In the arsenic-contaminated Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in India and Bangladesh, small-scale piped water supply seems a promising way to provide safe drinking water to households in the region. The use of smartphone applications can support monitoring of the system and enhance local engagement and empowerment. In this paper the scope for mobile crowd participation as a research and monitoring tool for piped water supply systems in Bihar, India and in Khulna and Chittagong, Bangladesh is investigated. In these areas, the use of smartphones and internet access are growing rapidly and smartphone applications would enable real-time water quality monitoring, payment of water bills, awareness creation, and a dialogue between the end-user and the water supplier. To identify the relevance and acceptability of piped water supply and smartphone monitoring, four surveys with potential end-users were conducted. Based on these surveys we conclude that in the investigated areas there is a desire for piped water systems, that households already own smartphones with internet access, and that there is an interest in smartphone monitoring. The enabling environment to deploy mobile crowd participation for piped water system monitoring stimulates further research towards an investigation of potential functionalities and the actual development of such an application.
Many of the Design for Development outcomes which are unsuited to the users and their environment are based on poorly defined needs and preferences. Product-design engineers are trained to take the user perspective into account, but not to conduct ethnographic research. Thereby, they have limited time and resources to explore the user context. This paper describes the development of a systemic approach that urges designers to move beyond the investigation of product–user interaction and supports them to efficiently and rigorously explore their potential users’ context and their valued beings and doings. By using this approach, design engineers are guided to make informed design decisions and to improve the accessibility, applicability, acceptance and adoption of the technologies that they develop. To develop this approach, analytic guidance was derived from Sen’s ‘capability approach’, and practical guidance was derived from the domains of product design and rapid ethnography. Design teams using the Capability-Driven Design approach in the field indicated that the approach enabled them to rapidly understand participants’ culture and priorities, supporting them in design decision making and providing them design inspiration.
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Many of the Design for Development outcomes which are unsuited to the users and their environment are based on poorly defined needs and preferences. Product-design engineers are trained to take the user perspective into account, but not to conduct ethnographic research. Thereby, they have limited time and resources to explore the user context. This paper describes the development of a systemic approach that urges designers to move beyond the investigation of product–user interaction and supports them to efficiently and rigorously explore their potential users’ context and their valued beings and doings. By using this approach, design engineers are guided to make informed design decisions and to improve the accessibility, applicability, acceptance and adoption of the technologies that they develop. To develop this approach, analytic guidance was derived from Sen’s ‘capability approach’, and practical guidance was derived from the domains of product design and rapid ethnography. Design teams using the Capability-Driven Design approach in the field indicated that the approach enabled them to rapidly understand participants’ culture and priorities, supporting them in design decision making and providing them design inspiration.
In informal urban settlements, there is an abundance of plastic waste material, which creates a range of health and environment-related problems. At the same time, there is a lack of locally produced products to improve the conditions for basic needs such as water and hygiene. As a means to connect these two challenges, we propose a distinctive solution in this paper: Do-it-Yourself (DIY) workspaces run by local entrepreneurs that transform plastic waste into valuable water and sanitation products. Our focus area during this project was the Korail slum in Dhaka. With the support of the Capability Driven Design (CDD) method, that aids design teams to systematically and comprehensively explore user contexts, we conducted an intensive field study in Korail. These insights helped us to identify fifteen product ideas, which were assessed on a range of criteria for viability. One of the worked-out solutions is a lid with vibrant colors made of recycled plastics to cover the aluminum pots used for storing water. Consequently, a lid and corresponding mould for local use with the plastic recycling machines of Precious Plastics were developed. The team also developed a business plan that is embedded in the network structure of the community and can be adopted by local entrepreneurs. The uniqueness of our approach lies in valorizing the use of local waste materials for products related to basic needs by stimulating DIY and grassroots level entrepreneurship.
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In informal urban settlements, there is an abundance of plastic waste material, which creates a range of health and environment-related problems. At the same time, there is a lack of locally produced products to improve the conditions for basic needs such as water and hygiene. As a means to connect these two challenges, we propose a distinctive solution in this paper: Do-it-Yourself (DIY) workspaces run by local entrepreneurs that transform plastic waste into valuable water and sanitation products. Our focus area during this project was the Korail slum in Dhaka. With the support of the Capability Driven Design (CDD) method, that aids design teams to systematically and comprehensively explore user contexts, we conducted an intensive field study in Korail. These insights helped us to identify fifteen product ideas, which were assessed on a range of criteria for viability. One of the worked-out solutions is a lid with vibrant colors made of recycled plastics to cover the aluminum pots used for storing water. Consequently, a lid and corresponding mould for local use with the plastic recycling machines of Precious Plastics were developed. The team also developed a business plan that is embedded in the network structure of the community and can be adopted by local entrepreneurs. The uniqueness of our approach lies in valorizing the use of local waste materials for products related to basic needs by stimulating DIY and grassroots level entrepreneurship.
Design for Well-Being
An Approach for Understanding Users' Lives in Design for Development
Many of the Design for Development outcomes which are unsuited to the users and their environment are based on poorly defined needs and preferences. Product designers are trained to take the user perspective into account, but they are not specifically trained to conduct ethnographic research. Thereby, they have limited time and resources to explore the user context. A systemic approach that efficiently guides designers to develop a social needs inventory would therefore be valuable. An approach that urges designers to move beyond the investigation of product-user interaction and to look comprehensively towards their potential users’ context and their valued beings and doings.
This book is about the development of such an approach. The Capability Driven Design approach guides product designers to conduct rapid, rigorous and comprehensive user context research, specifically in Design for Development projects. By using this approach, designers are guided to make informed design decisions and to improve the
accessibility, applicability, acceptance and adoption of their designs. To develop this approach, analytic guidance was derived from Sen’s ‘Capability Approach’, and practical guidance was derived from the domains of Human-Centred Design, Design for Development and Rapid Ethnography. The Capability Driven Design approach aims to support designers in designing products and / or services that improve the well-being of their users by enabling them to choose the lives that they value.
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Many of the Design for Development outcomes which are unsuited to the users and their environment are based on poorly defined needs and preferences. Product designers are trained to take the user perspective into account, but they are not specifically trained to conduct ethnographic research. Thereby, they have limited time and resources to explore the user context. A systemic approach that efficiently guides designers to develop a social needs inventory would therefore be valuable. An approach that urges designers to move beyond the investigation of product-user interaction and to look comprehensively towards their potential users’ context and their valued beings and doings.
This book is about the development of such an approach. The Capability Driven Design approach guides product designers to conduct rapid, rigorous and comprehensive user context research, specifically in Design for Development projects. By using this approach, designers are guided to make informed design decisions and to improve the
accessibility, applicability, acceptance and adoption of their designs. To develop this approach, analytic guidance was derived from Sen’s ‘Capability Approach’, and practical guidance was derived from the domains of Human-Centred Design, Design for Development and Rapid Ethnography. The Capability Driven Design approach aims to support designers in designing products and / or services that improve the well-being of their users by enabling them to choose the lives that they value.