Andy Crabtree Knihy

Focusing on the intersection of ethnography and systems design, this book critiques traditional social science methodologies that often misrepresent the lived experiences of individuals. It emphasizes the importance of understanding everyday social and cultural contexts to inform better design practices. By highlighting the disconnect between academic studies of 'work' and the realities of users, it calls for a more nuanced approach that considers the common-sense understandings of ordinary people in the development of systems.

An invaluable introduction to the new ‘ethnographic’ approach to designing effective and user friendly collaborative and interactive systems. Here, designers are shown how to analyse the social circumstances in which a particular system will be used. Consisting of four sections the book the requirements problem; how to describe and analyse cooperative work; the design process; and how to evaluate systems supporting cooperative work. Practical examples are provided throughout, based on the development case of a collaborative library database system.

Duncan is a soppy dog - sometimes. Mr Hipstone, who may once have been a pirate is now rather grumpy - sometimes. However, neither Duncan nor Hipstone turn out to be quite what each other (and the reader!) expects when they set sail across the seas in search of treasure.