Beyond usability: taking social, situational, cultural, and other contextual factors into account

Abstract

Design and evaluation in mainstream HCI have often relied on scientific measurements of efficiency and error. Although usability and usefulness are still primary concerns for HCI, researchers and designers in the field are attempting to move beyond, investigating a variety of approaches such as user experience, aesthetic interaction, ambiguity, slow technology, and various ways to understand the social, cultural, and other contextual aspects of our world. While some are driven by non-utilitarian theoretical frameworks, many are not informed by any particular framework or theory. Regardless, there has not been a coherent body of discussion in the field of HCI. This SIG will provide a forum for people to discuss current and future design approaches that move beyond usability. It will address both the relation of underlying paradigms and the relation of design and research.