September 20, 2006

Melissa Dawe

Co-creating an Assistive Mobile Communication System

Abstract

Melissa Dawe will present her experiences and work-in-progress co-creating an assistive mobile communication device (technically a PDA-based cell phone) with families of an individual with cognitive disabilities. Melissa is in the process of conducting an eight week field trial in which a young woman with cognitive disabilities has been using a custom-designed communication device to communicate daily with friends and family. The field trial also includes design and reflection activities with the family through which the device has evolved through use.

Melissa will discuss theoretical as well as very practical issues conducting an extended field trial with users in "the real world," analyzing the resulting data, and creating an environment in which users are empowered to be designers.

Melissa is in the final stages of her Ph.D. research; she is part of the CLever research group in L3D.

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