Short answer

Design interactive future scenarios that allow users to experience the benefits of repairing IoT devices, thereby encouraging a shift towards a repair culture.

Field
User-Centred Design
Source
Academic Publication (2023)
Method
Qualitative research involving stakeholder engagement, workshops, and the development of an experiential research platform.
Evidence
Moderate effect

Designing interactive experiences that allow users to explore future scenarios of IoT device repair can cultivate a stronger repair culture and reduce electronic waste. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Academic Publication. Using Qualitative research involving stakeholder engagement, workshops, and the development of an experiential research platform., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design interactive future scenarios that allow users to experience the benefits of repairing IoT devices, thereby encouraging a shift towards a repair culture.

Study
User-Centred DesignRecentModerate effect

Experiential Futures Foster Repair Culture for IoT Devices

Designing interactive experiences that allow users to explore future scenarios of IoT device repair can cultivate a stronger repair culture and reduce electronic waste.

Academic Publication · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Current attitudes towards IoT repairability are often passive, influenced by planned obsolescence.
  • 02Participants expressed a future expectation for more repairable IoT devices.
  • 03Experiential future scenarios can positively influence user perceptions and behaviours regarding device repair.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Design interactive future scenarios that allow users to experience the benefits of repairing IoT devices, thereby encouraging a shift towards a repair culture.

How to apply

Develop interactive prototypes or simulations that allow users to 'repair' virtual IoT devices or explore the lifecycle of a repairable versus a disposable device.

Project actions

  • 01When researching user attitudes, consider how future scenarios might influence their current behaviour.
  • 02Use interactive elements in your design process to help users visualize the long-term impact of their choices.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can experiential futures design interventions cultivate a capacity and desire for repairing Internet of Things (IoT) devices among users?
MethodQualitative research involving stakeholder engagement, workshops, and the development of an experiential research platform.
ProcedureThe research involved engaging with industry and community stakeholders to understand their views on IoT device repairability and longevity. Key findings from workshops were synthesized to create a new interactive physical-digital experience on a mobile platform, designed to highlight the environmental impact of IoT data generation and promote a rhetoric of repair and maintenance.
ContextDesign of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and strategies for reducing electronic waste.

Variables

IVExperiential futures design interventions.
DVUser capacity and desire to repair IoT devices, attitudes towards repair culture.
CVType of IoT device, participant demographics, prior repair experience.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Engages stakeholders directly in exploring future possibilities.
  • +Develops a tangible interactive experience based on research insights.

Limitations

The effectiveness of experiential futures may vary greatly depending on the user's prior knowledge and engagement with technology.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the research provides rich insights but may limit generalizability. The validity of the experiential platform's impact on long-term behaviour would require longitudinal studies.

Think critically

To what extent can 'experiential futures' truly shift ingrained consumer habits driven by cost and convenience?

05

Design Principles

"Design for longevity and repairability by engaging users in future possibilities."

As electronic waste, particularly from IoT devices, becomes a significant environmental concern, understanding user perceptions and fostering a desire for repair is crucial. By engaging users in future possibilities, designers can proactively shape product lifecycles towards longevity and sustainability.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Making future repair scenarios interactive can help people want to fix their smart gadgets instead of throwing them away.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when exploring user perceptions of product longevity and repairability.
  • 2.Use the concept of experiential futures to justify design interventions aimed at promoting sustainable practices.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the potential of experiential futures to foster a repair culture for IoT devices. By engaging users in interactive scenarios that explore future repair possibilities, designers can influence attitudes and behaviours towards product longevity and sustainability, thereby reducing electronic waste.

09

Source

Academic Publication

Fixing the Future: Cultivating a Capacity to Repair IoT Devices through Experiential Futures

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about experiential futures foster repair culture for iot devices?
Design interactive future scenarios that allow users to experience the benefits of repairing IoT devices, thereby encouraging a shift towards a repair culture. Evidence: Academic Publication (2023).
Why does "Experiential Futures Foster Repair Culture for IoT Devices" matter for design?
As electronic waste, particularly from IoT devices, becomes a significant environmental concern, understanding user perceptions and fostering a desire for repair is crucial. By engaging users in future possibilities, designers can proactively shape product lifecycles towards longevity and sustainability.
How can designers apply this research?
Design interactive future scenarios that allow users to experience the benefits of repairing IoT devices, thereby encouraging a shift towards a repair culture.
What were the main findings?
Current attitudes towards IoT repairability are often passive, influenced by planned obsolescence.. Participants expressed a future expectation for more repairable IoT devices.. Experiential future scenarios can positively influence user perceptions and behaviours regarding device repair.
What research method was used?
Qualitative research involving stakeholder engagement, workshops, and the development of an experiential research platform..
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Academic Publication.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Develop interactive prototypes or simulations that allow users to 'repair' virtual IoT devices or explore the lifecycle of a repairable versus a disposable device.
What are the limitations?
The study's findings may be specific to the participants and the particular IoT devices explored; generalizability to all IoT devices and user demographics requires further investigation.