School of Information Sciences

Digital Libraries Colloquium Series

Sponsored by the School of Computer Science-Carnegie Mellon University, the School of Information Sciences-University of Pittsburgh, the University Library System-University of Pittsburgh, the University Libraries-Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Andrew Large

CN-Pratt-Grinstad Chair in Information Studies, School of Information Studies, McGill University

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Room 501, IS Building, 135 North Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh

Children as Designers of Technology

Abstract: User-centered design now is a well established principle when the users are adults, but has been slower to emerge when they are young people. This is particularly the case when the intention is to involve children throughout the design process, from initial planning sessions to a completed prototype.

This lecture will present the experiences of researchers at McGill University, who created a user-centered design technique they have termed "Bonded Design" in order to develop several children's IR interfaces, working closely with elementary school students as co-members of the design team. Professor Large will discuss the team's progression from its early steps to ascertain children's technology design ideas via interviews, through use of focus groups, to its latest application of Bonded Design to explore information visualization as a means to display hierarchical subject directories in children's web portals.

Bio: Andrew Large serves as the CN-Pratt-Grinstad Professor of Information Studies in McGill University’s School of Information Studies. He earned his PhD in Soviet and East European Studies at the University of Glasgow. His research interests include Information Seeking Behavior and Human-Computer Interaction.  His most recent research project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and addresses “Visualization Models of a Hierarchical Taxonomy in Children’s Web Portals.”

 

More about the Digital Libraries Colloquium series:
http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/colloquia/digital-libraries-series.php

Colloquia

It is part of the School's mission to disseminate research ideas and findings through Colloquia. New students and faculty enjoy this vibrant intellectual community.