Book: Innovating for and by users

Innovating for and by users
Edited by Jo Pierson, Enid Mante-Meijer, Eugène Loos and Bartolomeo Sapio
A publication of COST – European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research

Abstract

What is the role of people in the development of digital media? What are the enablers and constraints for the appropriation and diffusion of broadband technologies and services in Europe? In what way do technological innovations become part of everyday life of people? What are the best methods and approaches to identify the creativity and optimal experience of ICT users from a bottom-up perspective? These are just some of the issues being addressed in this book.

The book looks at socio-technological transitions and shifting roles of users in the design and innovation of broadband technologies and digital media. The different chapters aim to shed more light on the “black box: of design and use of ICTs. In this way we hope to contribute to the empowerment of people in their relationship(s) with new media and – through this – to increase the quality of their social life. The title “Innovating for and by users” refers to insights on how to innovate by involving users more intensely in the design of technological innovations, which can lead to innovations that create more benefits for these users.

The authors deliver a timely reality check on the current broadband society in Europe from a users’ perspective, in a general (theoretical) sense as well as in specific domains (digital television, e-publishing, care sector…). This is done in an interdisciplinary way by integrating social science views and engineering approaches. It gives innovative insights based on state-of-the-art academic and industry-driven digital media research in various European countries.

The book will appeal to industry and academic researchers in media and communication studies, social studies of technology, digital media marketing and other domains that investigate the mutual relationship between media technologies and society.

Table of Contents

1. Everyday life: Domesticating the invisible – Maren Hartmann
2. Confronting video-on-demand with television viewing practices – Wendy Van den Broeck, Jo Pierson and Bram Lievens
3. Mobile television: A hype or a real consumer need? – Agnes Urban
4. Cluster analysis of internet users: A longitudinal examination – Karianne Vermaas and Lidwien van de Wijngaert
5. Risk takers and choice makers: Their (non) use of new media – Age and risk perception during a choice process – Enid Mante-Meijer and Eugène Loos
6. The users’ shaping of networked communication – Gustavo Cardoso and Rita Espanha
7. The challenge of user- & QoE-centric research and product development in today’s ICT environment – Katrien De Moor and Lieven De Marez
8. Social learning and intermediaries: Charting the mediators between developers and users of new ICT – James Stewart and Sampsa Hyysalo
9. Archetypical users as starting point for exploring wireless city applications: Linking the domestication and diffusion approach – Jo Pierson, An Jacobs and Lieven De Marez
10. Social innovation among ICT users: Technology as catalyst in promoting social change – Serge Proulx
11. From “simple customer” to “warm user” Or, who cares about connections in community in community innovations? – Stefan Verhaegh
12. Conceptualising online news use – Ike Picone
13. The evolution of services with ICTs: Remote assistance device for elderly people – Anne-France de Saint Laurent-Kogan
14. A systemic evaluation of obstacles preventing the wider public benefiting from and participating in the broadband society – Yiannis Laouris, Marios Michaelides and Bartolomeo Sapio
15. Broadband development: The importance of enablers and constraints for a consistent strategic policy making – Peter Trkman, Borka Jerman Blaži? and Tomaž Turk
16. Users in the information society: Shaping a “golden age” – Mijke Slot and Valerie Frissen

The official PDF will soon be available from the EU Bookshop. Meanwhile you can find more information and leave your contact details here.