Towards a Probe Design Framework

Abstract

Since their introduction, probes have been widely used in HCI. Despite this, there have not been much reflections and discussions about the design thinking behind their creation and use. There is also a lack of actionable guidance on designing and using probes. This lack may have contributed to some concerns that the method has been misinterpreted and misunderstood. We reviewed HCI literature surrounding probes and found one of the few papers that offers a nascent framework for probe design and use. We used it to guide the design of a collection of probes and reflected on the framework's usefulness. We extend this framework by offering a more useful way of visualizing and working with probe design properties. We also provide further clarity and advice on how others may think and approach the design and use of probes more effectively, especially those turning to probes for the first time.